WEBVTT - Reds Hot Stove League -- 1/20/26 0:00:10.280 --> 0:00:13.840 This is the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League. 0:00:13.600 --> 0:00:15.960 The Red Surround the Radio. 0:00:17.200 --> 0:00:21.080 The Hotstove League is brought to you by Jtmfood Group. 0:00:21.320 --> 0:00:26.599 Let's create great dishes together. JTM MSA Design, the region's 0:00:26.720 --> 0:00:30.440 leader in sports education and civic design and the official 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:35.200 architect of the reds Tom's Watchbar. All the sports, all 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:38.960 the Time. Bet MGM, Now you're betting with the King 0:00:39.000 --> 0:00:44.159 of sportsbooks. 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Visit RLC dot com and make 0:01:04.920 --> 0:01:08.119 RNL Carriers your global transportation provider. 0:01:08.480 --> 0:01:11.639 Deep to center Field, going back at the Wall, lived 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:14.520 it in Long Gone Ellie Dayla. 0:01:14.319 --> 0:01:19.920 Cruz, the red Z around the Radio. 0:01:21.120 --> 0:01:23.440 Now the reds Hot Stove League. 0:01:23.920 --> 0:01:26.600 Hey, very delightful, good evening to you, and welcome in 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:29.400 to the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League presented by you 0:01:29.640 --> 0:01:32.960 DF and we are live of the bed MGM Sportsbook 0:01:33.600 --> 0:01:37.639 Back inside Tom's watchbar at the Banks and the band's 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:40.200 back together with Jim. Tommie throws. Great to be with 0:01:40.280 --> 0:01:43.720 you talking Reds baseball for the next hour, and we've 0:01:43.720 --> 0:01:47.480 got plenty to discuss on the show today. We've got 0:01:47.520 --> 0:01:51.080 a great lineup of guests. We will have Chris fialaka 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:52.880 red Sitting Coach, joining us at the bottom of the 0:01:52.880 --> 0:01:56.720 hour and coming up very shortly. Red's outfielder TJ. Friedel 0:01:56.880 --> 0:01:59.720 will be on with us Jim. There were a few 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:02.760 things that came out of the news over the last 0:02:03.040 --> 0:02:07.520 week since the show last aired. Probably most notably is 0:02:07.600 --> 0:02:10.720 the trade for left handed reliever brock Burke, is part 0:02:10.760 --> 0:02:13.600 of a three team deal that sent Gavin Lux to 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:16.440 the Rays. One of the things that the Reds wanted 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:20.920 to do this offseason was improve the offense, certainly, but 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:23.800 also make sure that they had a few more weapons 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:25.600 in the bullpen. They've done a good job. I feel 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:28.280 like this offseason of certainly improving the bullpen. They have 0:02:28.360 --> 0:02:30.480 certainly done their work in the bullpen. And what this 0:02:30.560 --> 0:02:33.160 does when you add a brock Burke. Obviously it's a. 0:02:33.200 --> 0:02:36.400 Left handed arm and the Reds were lacking that, but 0:02:36.440 --> 0:02:41.760 adding him and Caleb Ferguson and Pierce Johnson. It really 0:02:41.840 --> 0:02:44.680 lengthens out the bullpen because there are only so many 0:02:45.160 --> 0:02:48.720 high leverage type guys, so you don't have to rely 0:02:49.320 --> 0:02:54.960 at least on paper. At least on paper, you don't 0:02:55.000 --> 0:02:59.160 have to rely on Tony Santion right and Emilio Pagon 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:01.720 and Graham Ashcraft every single day. 0:03:01.760 --> 0:03:04.880 You've got other guys now that have been in high leverage. 0:03:04.520 --> 0:03:08.840 Situations, have had success in high leverage situations for several years. 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:13.280 So it really not only lengthens it out by numbers, 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:15.560 but it lengthens out the guys you can trust in 0:03:15.600 --> 0:03:16.600 high leverage situation. 0:03:16.720 --> 0:03:18.840 One of the things, and we just had Reds Fest 0:03:18.880 --> 0:03:21.320 this past weekend, and I'm sure many of you listening 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:23.520 today were at reds Fest and had a chance to 0:03:23.720 --> 0:03:25.040 check in on some of the q and a's. I 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:28.800 did one with Nick Crawl, Brad Metter, and Terry fran Conen. 0:03:28.840 --> 0:03:30.240 One of the things that really stood out to me 0:03:30.280 --> 0:03:34.120 that that Tito said is, look, having more weapons in 0:03:34.160 --> 0:03:37.120 the bullpen means that you have the luxury to go 0:03:37.200 --> 0:03:39.600 out and chase some of those wins when you might 0:03:39.640 --> 0:03:42.160 be down a run or two, as opposed to just 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:45.920 kind of having to punt because there are games and 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:48.360 this is one of those things that can be tough 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:50.600 to understand because you think, well, why don't you try 0:03:50.600 --> 0:03:53.080 to win every game? You're only down a run, maybe two, 0:03:53.520 --> 0:03:55.760 why don't you go for it. Well, because if you're 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.480 already trailing and you go out and you use your 0:03:58.520 --> 0:04:01.480 best relievers chase that win and you don't get that 0:04:01.600 --> 0:04:03.920 run or two to come back, well, now you've just 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:05.480 burnt those relievers for. 0:04:05.440 --> 0:04:05.960 The next day. 0:04:06.000 --> 0:04:08.480 Perhaps this gives you the luxury to be able to 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:10.120 do that, which might be able to net you a 0:04:10.120 --> 0:04:12.280 couple more wins throughout the course of the season. 0:04:12.360 --> 0:04:14.440 Yeah, welcome to life as a big league skipper. 0:04:14.520 --> 0:04:18.119 Because the moves that you make are obviously affecting that game, 0:04:18.160 --> 0:04:20.679 but it also affects you seven days in the future 0:04:20.720 --> 0:04:21.279 as well. 0:04:21.760 --> 0:04:23.120 Particularly with the bullpen. 0:04:23.480 --> 0:04:26.560 There's no more effect on a long term effect one 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:29.640 move can make on a bull than the bullpen. So 0:04:30.160 --> 0:04:33.680 completely agree. I think there are solid moves and hopefully 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:37.000 the Reds have reached their goal. Who knows, they might 0:04:37.000 --> 0:04:39.920 not be done, but right now the bullpen on paper 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:40.680 is a pretty good one. 0:04:40.720 --> 0:04:42.880 It sounds like there are more moves to be made. 0:04:42.880 --> 0:04:45.520 They definitely are trying to still improve the lineup. A 0:04:45.560 --> 0:04:48.760 couple other headlines this week, Ellie de la Cruz has 0:04:48.760 --> 0:04:51.240 been announced will not be playing in the World Baseball 0:04:51.240 --> 0:04:56.080 Classic as initially intended. Also a report that he turned 0:04:56.120 --> 0:05:00.479 down a Reds record offer last spring, which have made 0:05:00.520 --> 0:05:03.119 him the highest paid Red of all time. 0:05:03.160 --> 0:05:04.240 But he turned that down. 0:05:04.440 --> 0:05:06.000 Really, Jim, when you look at it, this is a 0:05:06.040 --> 0:05:07.840 guy that's eligible to be a free agent after the 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:11.400 twenty twenty nine season. It's not a huge surprise, but 0:05:11.720 --> 0:05:14.640 it also shows the Reds made an effort to try 0:05:14.640 --> 0:05:17.360 to invest in in Elly long term. 0:05:17.600 --> 0:05:20.200 Yeah, not a big surprise, and I think a bigger 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:23.480 deal is being made of it because I would like 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:25.960 to just concentrate on the four years they have him 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:29.080 under control, and hopefully they can put a roster around 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:31.920 him to win while he is here, and who knows, 0:05:32.120 --> 0:05:35.520 You don't know what the future holds. He's banking on himself, 0:05:35.600 --> 0:05:37.960 and if he becomes the player we all think he 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:41.240 can be, then he's going to exceed that offer that 0:05:41.320 --> 0:05:43.679 he got. But we'll see you're banking on yourself. 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:45.880 It's gonna be a big bank if he's a big 0:05:45.920 --> 0:05:51.480 bank pun intended he reaches that potential. Well, we've got 0:05:51.800 --> 0:05:54.640 TJ Friedel on the line, Red's outfielder as we continue 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:56.599 to talk Reds baseball and we welcome in TJ. 0:05:56.760 --> 0:05:57.039 TJ. 0:05:57.200 --> 0:06:00.200 Great sceni this weekend. How's your offseason been, my friend? 0:06:01.920 --> 0:06:03.680 Yeah, great scene you guys, thanks for having me on. 0:06:04.080 --> 0:06:08.120 I appreciate it. And Sea has been good. Just a 0:06:08.120 --> 0:06:10.320 lot of family time, just hanging out with my wife 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:13.360 and the boys and being a stay at home dad 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.400 for a short period of time. But you know, I've 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:18.920 been ramping up for a while now, and I think 0:06:19.160 --> 0:06:21.320 having read Fast this past weekend was great because they 0:06:21.360 --> 0:06:24.000 got everyone excited for spring training, and you know spring 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:25.480 trains right around the corner. I'll be heading now in 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:28.720 a couple of weeks, so just kind of got everyone excited. 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:30.200 You have to see the boys again and everyone got 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:33.400 to be together. So all season has been good, but 0:06:33.520 --> 0:06:34.480 now it's time to ramp up. 0:06:35.400 --> 0:06:38.040 Well, we'll certainly get into the baseball side of it. 0:06:38.080 --> 0:06:40.760 But you mentioned the two boys that you are chasing 0:06:40.800 --> 0:06:45.240 around now. Is parenthood different now that you guys are 0:06:45.240 --> 0:06:47.440 in a man to man defense as opposed to Yeah, 0:06:47.680 --> 0:06:50.680 two on one zone yeah, exactly. 0:06:50.720 --> 0:06:53.279 That's that's so funny, excepts that's like commonly referred to 0:06:53.320 --> 0:06:56.080 as man and man defense, and it's a lot. Man, 0:06:56.080 --> 0:06:57.800 you've got a four year old running around at home 0:06:57.839 --> 0:06:59.480 and he wants to plan it back you already wants 0:06:59.480 --> 0:07:02.360 to play baseball, and you got to manage the newborn. 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:04.240 He's five months old now, so it's like you got 0:07:04.240 --> 0:07:05.839 to keep an eye on him, can't leave him alone. 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:09.440 So it's and then the four year old wants to 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:12.680 play with our newborn Jonah all the time, and he's 0:07:12.880 --> 0:07:14.960 trying to explain to him, hey, you can't really do much, 0:07:15.160 --> 0:07:17.440 not yet. Soon you guys can play together, but right 0:07:17.480 --> 0:07:20.880 now he just kind of sits there. So but it's great, 0:07:21.360 --> 0:07:23.640 it's special and for me getting to have this time 0:07:23.680 --> 0:07:25.720 with them, I just try and soak it all in, 0:07:25.880 --> 0:07:29.480 you know, be present as much as I can. It 0:07:29.600 --> 0:07:32.320 is difficult though, playing the man to make coverage is difficult, 0:07:32.360 --> 0:07:32.840 that's for sure. 0:07:33.200 --> 0:07:36.200 Well, it was great seeing them running around and of 0:07:36.240 --> 0:07:39.360 course Dad was chasing them all the time at the 0:07:39.360 --> 0:07:42.000 time that you did have free at Redsfest, So it 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:43.840 was great and it's going to be great to see 0:07:43.840 --> 0:07:47.080 them grow up on the baseball side, We've heard so 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:51.880 many guys they trying to learn their major league body, 0:07:51.920 --> 0:07:53.880 if you will. Some guys were put on weight and 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:56.679 they're like, Okay, that didn't work, I'm gonna take off weight. 0:07:56.920 --> 0:07:59.080 I worked on my legs. Okay, that didn't work. 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:01.960 You're kind of deeper into it now, have you figured 0:08:02.000 --> 0:08:04.520 out what you need to work on to get ready 0:08:04.560 --> 0:08:07.920 for a season and what is that specifically this offseason? 0:08:10.120 --> 0:08:14.400 Yeah, I've been. I mean, I put on weight, didn't 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:17.640 like it, felt slow, went back down weight. But like 0:08:17.680 --> 0:08:19.680 I'm pretty consistent with where I'm at now over the 0:08:19.760 --> 0:08:22.800 last three years. Comes with where I'm at way wise, 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:25.280 and being able to keep it on during the season 0:08:25.360 --> 0:08:28.120 and build strength and then carry that strength throughout the 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:33.240 whole season. For me, I kind of like to set simple, 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:38.640 realistic goals in the off season. So like hitting wise, 0:08:38.679 --> 0:08:40.680 for me, I'm not changing anything in my stance, not 0:08:40.760 --> 0:08:45.000 changing anything mechanically, But for me, I'm working a lot 0:08:45.040 --> 0:08:49.880 on early count approach and aggressiveness early on in the 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:55.000 account and just being more aggressive and honting certain pitches. 0:08:55.679 --> 0:08:59.560 So it's more approach based than anything for hitting wise. 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:03.360 But the biggest focus for me this offseason has been 0:09:03.960 --> 0:09:07.160 defensively and it's a lot of it's been working on 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:11.760 like an imaginary ten foot circle, like a ten foot 0:09:11.840 --> 0:09:14.760 radius circle around my body, and it's really working on 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:18.800 how fast I can explode ten feet in every direction. 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:21.520 So it's just like the initial burst off the bat, 0:09:22.320 --> 0:09:25.599 covering ground in every direction because that's an area that 0:09:25.920 --> 0:09:27.760 I can improve on in something that will help me 0:09:28.760 --> 0:09:30.880 with my angles and with the route efficiency. But if 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:33.480 I can really explode out of the first ten feet, 0:09:33.480 --> 0:09:35.319 and this is stuff that means. CC went over towards 0:09:35.320 --> 0:09:38.160 the end of the year and he's been great. Him 0:09:38.200 --> 0:09:40.040 and FuMO are string coach. I have been great kind 0:09:40.040 --> 0:09:42.600 of working with me and giving me drills and things 0:09:42.640 --> 0:09:44.760 to do in the off season to really maximize my 0:09:44.880 --> 0:09:49.360 work when I'm doing those kind of things. So it's 0:09:49.360 --> 0:09:49.760 been good. 0:09:50.080 --> 0:09:51.920 Is there an element of getting a read off the 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:54.000 bat that goes along with that too. 0:09:55.880 --> 0:10:00.160 Yeah, for sure, and that'll that comes just you know, 0:10:00.200 --> 0:10:02.480 with experience. A lot of it is just instinct and 0:10:02.520 --> 0:10:05.640 with experience, and those are things that like you work 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:07.880 on that when it's fung goos, they're during BP, right, 0:10:07.880 --> 0:10:09.800 if guys are out here hitting BP, I'll go out 0:10:09.800 --> 0:10:12.199 in the center field and I'll shag and that's we'll 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:14.040 really get the best work of just getting a true 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:16.840 read off the bat. But with that, it is like 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:19.240 the intent of how fast can I be out of 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:22.880 this ten foot circle? And sometimes there's like when I'm 0:10:22.880 --> 0:10:25.240 working on it, there's times where I explode too quick 0:10:25.520 --> 0:10:28.440 in one route and then I got to recorrect. But 0:10:28.520 --> 0:10:30.680 if I can explode out in that certain direction, it 0:10:30.720 --> 0:10:33.120 gives me time to make that correction without being late 0:10:33.160 --> 0:10:33.600 to the ball. 0:10:34.440 --> 0:10:36.959 Well, TJ, We've got plenty more to ask you about 0:10:37.080 --> 0:10:39.520 just getting started here with TJ Friedel. We've got to 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:41.320 get to a breakdough, So stick around and we'll have 0:10:41.360 --> 0:10:43.200 more with TJ. Friedel when we come back. It's the 0:10:43.200 --> 0:10:45.800 Budweiser reds Hot Stove Lea presented by UDF Live, the 0:10:45.800 --> 0:10:48.360 bet MGM Sports Book, Inside Tom's Watch, Martha Banks on 0:10:48.400 --> 0:10:56.200 the Reds Radio Network, Welcome back into the Budweiser reds 0:10:56.200 --> 0:10:59.280 Hot Stove Lake presented by df Live, the bet MGM 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:02.719 Sports Book and Side and Tom's watchbar Ats Banks, Jim Day, 0:11:02.720 --> 0:11:04.440 I'm Tommy Throw great to be with you and we've 0:11:04.440 --> 0:11:06.959 got TJ. Friedel on the line talking some Reds Baseball 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:11.280 and TJ. You were talking about your offensive approach there 0:11:11.320 --> 0:11:13.480 a little bit, and there was a point, especially through 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:15.840 the first couple of months of the season, where you 0:11:15.880 --> 0:11:18.000 were one of the best hitters on this team. 0:11:18.200 --> 0:11:20.760 For you, when things are going. 0:11:20.520 --> 0:11:24.200 Really good for you offensively, what is it that's working 0:11:24.320 --> 0:11:27.040 for you and what did you kind of experience when 0:11:27.080 --> 0:11:28.040 you struggled a little bit. 0:11:30.559 --> 0:11:33.880 Yeah, I think early on in the especially in the 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:37.400 first half, you know, I was able to handle that 0:11:37.600 --> 0:11:39.559 fastball at the top of the zone, which I know 0:11:39.559 --> 0:11:42.800 only get a lot, and there was mostly just kind 0:11:42.800 --> 0:11:45.000 of sticking to that approach of driving the ball to 0:11:45.080 --> 0:11:48.520 left center, especially whe they're shifted, trying to drive the 0:11:48.559 --> 0:11:51.520 ball to left center in that area, and then if 0:11:51.520 --> 0:11:53.240 they come in or they come in with an offspeed, 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:55.040 then it's just reactionary for me because I know I 0:11:55.040 --> 0:11:57.080 could pull the ball, so I'm not going to try 0:11:57.080 --> 0:11:59.760 and do that. But for me, it's just reacting to 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:02.199 that and letting the rest take care of itself. And 0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:05.480 I think once I kind of got into the second 0:12:05.559 --> 0:12:09.520 half and I started trying to push the ball that 0:12:09.559 --> 0:12:12.480 way in a sense instead of just sticking to that 0:12:12.520 --> 0:12:14.640 approach and letting it travel. I think I tried to 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:18.120 overcorrect and do a little too much and trying to 0:12:18.160 --> 0:12:21.680 go that way and started kind of flaring the ball 0:12:21.760 --> 0:12:25.080 to left field and getting under especially those heaters at 0:12:25.080 --> 0:12:27.720 the top of his own I started barrel started dropping 0:12:27.800 --> 0:12:30.480 just a little bit, and then that's really all it needs, 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:34.080 and then it turned into a pop up. So I 0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:37.319 think for me, like the biggest focus is just having 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:40.200 a feel for one hundred and sixty two games for 0:12:40.240 --> 0:12:43.920 the whole season, where when things aren't feeling the best 0:12:44.000 --> 0:12:46.800 or maybe my top hands getting a little tired, having 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:49.120 certain drills to fall back on and certain things that 0:12:49.240 --> 0:12:51.400 do and me and Val talked about this at the 0:12:51.480 --> 0:12:54.080 end of the season, just having some drills and they 0:12:54.080 --> 0:12:56.079 all season to work on, especially like more top hand 0:12:56.160 --> 0:12:59.480 dominance of staying on top of the heaters, especially now 0:12:59.520 --> 0:13:03.040 in the game, because so many pitchers from ninety nine 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:05.280 with ride at the top of the zone and that's 0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:08.560 so hard to handle. Even if your bat drops the 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:11.040 tiniest amount, that's all it takes to you is swinging 0:13:11.080 --> 0:13:15.800 this or pop up. So I've been really like hammering down, 0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:19.400 implementing top hendrows and doing some Velo machine which is 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:22.520 my top hand, and then using that as my feel 0:13:22.640 --> 0:13:25.240 for July and August once you get to the dog 0:13:25.320 --> 0:13:27.920 days where maybe the body's a little tired that day, 0:13:28.240 --> 0:13:31.320 but having a feel to go back to to help 0:13:31.360 --> 0:13:32.400 simplify the approach. 0:13:33.760 --> 0:13:36.240 If you guys go into the season with who you 0:13:36.320 --> 0:13:41.640 have now, it'll basically be about the same group as 0:13:41.720 --> 0:13:42.320 last year. 0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:43.880 How do you think you. 0:13:43.880 --> 0:13:48.199 Individually or even collectively, you guys can score more runs consistently. 0:13:48.240 --> 0:13:49.600 I know that's a loaded question. 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:53.600 It's easy for me to ask, it easy for me 0:13:53.679 --> 0:13:55.200 to answer, But how. 0:13:55.520 --> 0:13:56.240 Do you see it? 0:13:59.559 --> 0:14:02.000 You know? I feel like for us as an offense, 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:04.559 I think it's just feeding off of each other. And 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:06.800 there were times last year, especially in the second half, 0:14:06.800 --> 0:14:08.600 where there was a lot of us kind of pressing 0:14:08.720 --> 0:14:10.680 to get that big home run, to get that big 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:14.000 hit instead of just when we play our best, it's 0:14:14.040 --> 0:14:16.360 just one after another and just keeping the line moving. 0:14:17.440 --> 0:14:19.120 You know, last year we took a lot of pride 0:14:19.120 --> 0:14:22.240 and being tough outs, and we wanted to get up 0:14:22.280 --> 0:14:23.880 in the box and just be a tough out, whatever 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:26.040 that meant. But put together good at bat, be a 0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:29.920 tough out, hit the ball hard, and then I think 0:14:29.960 --> 0:14:31.840 you know, as once we got in the second half, 0:14:31.880 --> 0:14:34.440 I think, you know, myself included, I'm guilty of it 0:14:34.480 --> 0:14:38.000 as well, pressing in some situations and just forcing trying 0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:40.160 to force that big hit, trying to force that that 0:14:41.080 --> 0:14:44.600 whatever it may be, and that's hitting's already hard, right 0:14:44.640 --> 0:14:47.200 and doing that on top of it and trying to 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:51.440 force that only makes it harder for us as an offense. 0:14:51.560 --> 0:14:53.600 Like you said, a lot of us are returning. It's 0:14:53.640 --> 0:14:56.920 going to be a very similar lineup, plus a few 0:14:57.960 --> 0:15:01.080 really good pieces that we picked up, and I think 0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:03.000 it's just going to be keeping the line moving for 0:15:03.080 --> 0:15:05.440 us offensively. It's not a one man effort, right, But 0:15:05.480 --> 0:15:09.520 it's thirteen guys. We got thirteen guys, thirteen hitters out there, 0:15:10.240 --> 0:15:12.560 and it's one through thirteen no matter what. And that's 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:15.880 their mindset, and I think that helps take the pressure 0:15:15.920 --> 0:15:18.080 off individually so that we can all go perform. 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:20.880 You touched on something right there, and I want to 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:22.760 talk to Chris Valka about it a little bit later 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:25.880 on from a coaching perspective, but you talked about, you know, 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:27.640 you guys are trying to hit the big home run 0:15:27.680 --> 0:15:30.600 at times, and I think fans look at this team 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:33.120 and they see that this group doesn't hit a ton 0:15:33.160 --> 0:15:37.480 of home runs. You've talked about it before that you 0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:40.360 don't look at yourself as a home run hitter. But 0:15:40.920 --> 0:15:44.040 how difficult is it to avoid the trap of trying 0:15:44.040 --> 0:15:45.440 to hit a home run in a key moment? 0:15:45.480 --> 0:15:47.040 Because you can hit home runs. I mean it's not 0:15:47.120 --> 0:15:48.080 like you can't hit them. 0:15:48.520 --> 0:15:51.120 You've hit several throughout the course of your career, almost 0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:53.040 at a twenty home run season a few years ago. 0:15:53.600 --> 0:15:54.120 But how. 0:15:55.560 --> 0:15:59.240 Difficult is it to resist that temptation and stay within 0:15:59.280 --> 0:16:02.400 yourself when you know that's not deep down your game? 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:06.160 Yeah, And I can tell you one thing's for certain. 0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:08.120 I've never hit a home run when I'm trying to 0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:11.040 hit a home run. And I don't know many baseball 0:16:11.040 --> 0:16:13.760 players out there that do hit a home run every 0:16:13.760 --> 0:16:16.720 time they try and hit a home run. But you know, 0:16:16.840 --> 0:16:19.440 I think, for me, right, especially like you said, I'm 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:21.400 not a home run hitter. But it'll come, and I 0:16:21.440 --> 0:16:25.320 know it'll come. But for me, my home runs come 0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:29.120 when my approach is hitting the fastball, squaring the fastball 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:31.840 up to left center center field, and then anything else 0:16:31.840 --> 0:16:34.440 that hangs or anything soft. And I can go poolside 0:16:34.480 --> 0:16:36.320 with it and then the rest takes care of itself. 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:42.680 But I think the trap is trying to hit home runs. 0:16:42.320 --> 0:16:45.400 That's the trap. And I think that's the trap as 0:16:45.440 --> 0:16:48.680 a baseball player, league wide, no matter if you're young 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:51.680 or if you're the MLB. Trying to hit a home run, 0:16:51.720 --> 0:16:54.880 trying to lift the ball in the ears the hardest 0:16:54.880 --> 0:16:58.600 thing to do. That's why nobody hits one hundred home 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:01.280 runs in a season. That's not But I think if 0:17:01.320 --> 0:17:03.520 you have a line driver, gap to gap approach, then 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:08.480 your homers come, and that's what our offensive identity is. 0:17:08.640 --> 0:17:10.000 And just let the home runs come. 0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:12.960 How are your legs right now? 0:17:13.080 --> 0:17:16.639 At times the coaching staff or the manager said we 0:17:16.680 --> 0:17:20.199 got to protect TJ a little bit. You've had some 0:17:20.280 --> 0:17:24.240 injuries along the way. Do you think that some off days, 0:17:24.320 --> 0:17:26.680 some more off days will help you in that regard? 0:17:26.720 --> 0:17:29.760 And where are you at right now with I guess 0:17:29.840 --> 0:17:31.680 we'll say you're getting up there now, TJ. 0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:35.359 I mean, you know you got aging legs. I'm kidding. 0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:37.159 I mean, I don't know about I don't know about you, 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:42.680 but I'm twenty five. In my head, I'm twenty five 0:17:42.760 --> 0:17:45.280 years old. No, but you know like you said, in 0:17:45.320 --> 0:17:48.879 twenty four, having a couple of injuries, and I was 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:51.480 very protective of my body in twenty four because I 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:53.119 didn't want to go back on the IO and I 0:17:53.119 --> 0:17:55.199 didn't want to deal with that again. And yeah, so 0:17:55.280 --> 0:17:57.520 I was a little too overprotective of what I was 0:17:57.520 --> 0:18:01.119 going through. And last year I took a lot of 0:18:01.160 --> 0:18:03.400 time and spent a lot of time investing in my health, 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:05.960 spent a lot of time investing in my body, and 0:18:06.320 --> 0:18:11.280 last year, recovery was probably the utmost importance than it's 0:18:11.320 --> 0:18:15.000 ever been in my career. And nutrition and recovery was 0:18:15.000 --> 0:18:17.800 so important to me, and that's why there were times 0:18:17.880 --> 0:18:20.919 last year where you know, Tito and Freddy came up 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:22.760 to me and wanted me to take a day off, 0:18:22.760 --> 0:18:25.879 and I didn't want a day off. I felt good, 0:18:25.920 --> 0:18:28.240 I felt like I was in a good spot, and 0:18:28.280 --> 0:18:30.160 for me, it was I just wanted to be available 0:18:30.200 --> 0:18:33.640 every single day. I wanted to be a consistent name 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:37.480 for Tito to write the lineup every single day. And 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:41.760 having a healthy season last year, I feel like I 0:18:41.840 --> 0:18:44.480 know kind of where my body is and what it needs, 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:47.280 and I'm able to understand my body better on days 0:18:47.280 --> 0:18:49.800 where I might not be feeling the best and then 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:51.920 how to get my body ready that day to perform. 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.320 And so I think that just comes with age and 0:18:54.640 --> 0:18:57.440 maturity in this game and going through the grind of 0:18:57.440 --> 0:19:00.000 one hundred and sixty two games for my fourth year, 0:19:01.560 --> 0:19:05.560 just understanding my body and knowing what it needs. But anyway, 0:19:05.600 --> 0:19:06.400 I feel great. 0:19:06.920 --> 0:19:10.120 Glad to hear that. Appreciate the time, and we'll see 0:19:10.119 --> 0:19:11.400 in a few weeks out in Arizona. 0:19:12.440 --> 0:19:13.919 Yeah, you guys do all right? 0:19:13.920 --> 0:19:17.320 Thanks, thanks so much. That is Red's outfielder t J. Friedel. 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:20.080 We're back with Red's hitting coach Chris Pailika next as 0:19:20.119 --> 0:19:23.560 the Butterweiser reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF continues 0:19:23.600 --> 0:19:26.119 live the bet MGM Sports Book inside Tom's Watch Bar 0:19:26.160 --> 0:19:34.960 at the Banks on the Reds Radio Network. Welcome back 0:19:35.000 --> 0:19:37.879 in It's the Butterwiser reds Hot Steve League presented by UDF. 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:40.600 Down here at the pet MGM Sports Book inside Tom's 0:19:40.600 --> 0:19:43.480 Watch Bar at the Banks with Jim Day. I'm Tommy 0:19:43.480 --> 0:19:46.320 throw be a part of Red's history. Tickets for the 0:19:46.480 --> 0:19:50.040 twenty twenty six Reds Hall of Fame Induction Gala on 0:19:50.080 --> 0:19:53.000 April twenty sixth at the Cincinnati Convention Center. By the way, 0:19:53.000 --> 0:19:56.880 it looks great. They're on sale now at Redsmuseum dot org. 0:19:57.040 --> 0:19:59.679 Join the Reds as they honor the Hall of Fame's 0:19:59.680 --> 0:20:02.480