1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Thirty work on a Tuesday afternoon, Autam Copeland Deepop Team 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Web with you. The Giants opened the twenty twenty six 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: season for all of baseball tomorrow against the Yankees five 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: to five, a four oh five pregame right here on 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: the Sports Leader joining us on the Uma guest line. 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: A world champion with the Giants, and you can watch 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: them as part of NBC Sports Barrius Giants coverage all 8 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: season long. George contest with us on the Yuma guest line. George, 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: get to talk to you, man. 10 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 2: How you been, Hey George, Hey Fellas, how you doing? Then? 11 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Looking forward to baseball tomorrow? 12 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, I'm I'm excited. I've been joking with Derek 13 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: and Tim all week. I said Yankees and Giants opening 14 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: day on Netflix like God intended. 15 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, right exact. I think the only thing wrong 16 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: with that statement is Netflix, You're never getting into the 17 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: game now, so. 18 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: They're in the in the baseball game. So when you 19 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: look at this Giants team and I'm wondering from your perspective, 20 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: like trying to figure out what the identity of the 21 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: team will be. We do that like with the Niners 22 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: all the time, Like we know the Warriors identity is 23 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: Steph Curry, but we're trying to figures it offense, defense, running, passing. 24 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: When it comes to the Giants and this team that 25 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: looks like they've got a lineup it may be able 26 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: to compete, but the pitching the sort of questionable. What 27 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on the identity of the team as 28 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: we hit opening there? 29 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting. I think that that they've had 30 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 2: everyone's gone out and put together a pretty good spring, 31 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 2: so there's a lot to be excited about, right, And 32 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: you know, the hard and soul of Giants baseball for 33 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: the longest time has always been solid pitching, starting, and 34 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 2: relief and good defense, right, not making those silly mistakes 35 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,279 Speaker 2: and giving away outs and ninety feet and free runs. 36 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: And when teams have gone out and done that, they've 37 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: been successful. Looking at the two that I was on 38 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: that one and then twenty ten, the same way, you 39 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: played good, solid, solid, fundamental baseball. This team looks like 40 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 2: they have a lineup that if everyone stays healthy and 41 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 2: is producing on the same wavelength, they could they could 42 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: go out and make some noise, which is a lot 43 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 2: of fun to see. And again I still think that, 44 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 2: you know, the bullpen could be a little bit of 45 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: a question, Marcus, guys kind of get their feet under 46 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: them where they're going to all end up. You assume 47 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: Ryan Walker and Eric Miller will be at the back end, 48 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: and some guys are going to have to kind of 49 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: need to step up and fill some of those roles, 50 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: which I think that they have, you know, you know, 51 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: that type of you know mentality that they're able to 52 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: do that, And you know, I think it's going to 53 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 2: be interesting the first few series of the season. Will 54 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: be will be telling you it's the kind of what 55 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: kind of team that we're going to see out of 56 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: the gate. 57 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, Georg, let's let's get to the bullpen a little 58 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 3: bit more, because I think that's the biggest question going 59 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 3: into the season. 60 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 4: Where was their strength the season ago? 61 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 3: And I think we can assume, as you just send, 62 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: Ryan Walker will be the closer along with Eric Miller, 63 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: and you gotta believe Ryan Barocky is going to be 64 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,839 Speaker 3: there and with with with them acquiring him the other day, 65 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: but everything else seems up in the air at the moment. 66 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 3: So what were your impressions of the bullpen as we 67 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 3: go into the season. 68 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: You know, there are some guys that that did a 69 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 2: really nice job. Obviously, you have some you know guys 70 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 2: coming back and you know Spencer Bibvens who I think 71 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 2: has done a really nice job and being able to 72 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: be that type of swingman guy. He can go eat 73 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: two three innings for you, or he can go and 74 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: pitch in the higher leverage situation. Uh, you know, JT. 75 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: Brubaker is a guy that's going to be interesting. You 76 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,519 Speaker 2: have obviously Ryan Burrookiy who had a really nice spring 77 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: and uh, you know, I've known Ryan for a long time. 78 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 2: He's from the Chicago area around here, so he's a 79 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: lufty that that has a new emerged split finger fastball 80 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: that's been really effective. So it's just going to be, 81 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: you know what, how these guys come out of the 82 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: gate the gates and just establish and grab their roles. 83 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously we've seen with Ryan Walker when he's 84 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 2: on his game, he's as dominant as they come in 85 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: the big leagues. And Eric Miller same thing. A guy 86 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: he's thrown from a six to sixth release point with 87 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: that sinker and that changeup and that and that breaking 88 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: ball that he has, you could you have the ability 89 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 2: to be very devastating in those you know, seventh, eighth, 90 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 2: ninth innings, and it's just kind of about getting the 91 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: ball to those guys. But I think I think everyone 92 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: will step up and hopefully do their job. And the 93 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: biggest thing for those bullpen guys is some of the 94 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: ones who haven't been there or who are newer to 95 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: the team and to the big leagues is just no 96 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: free passes. Free passes at the end of a game 97 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: or in the later innings of a game will kill you. 98 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: And I think if you can avoid those and get 99 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: ahead of hitters, that everything will fall into place nicely. 100 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: Nasen pisses off managers like like bullpen guys coming in 101 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: and issue and walks right. George Contos on the the 102 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: Yuma guest line, what was so? I don't think it 103 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: was unique for it was so fun about the championship 104 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: era with you guys was I think fans always kind 105 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: of knew who was coming in at what point, Like 106 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: you had an idea based on the situation where Boach 107 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: was going to go with a guy at a certain role. 108 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: And I think roles are really important because I think 109 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: guys get comfortable in them in the bullpen, but things 110 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: shuffle and change. How long does it take because it 111 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: seems like we're almost starting from scratch. I mean, Walker's 112 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: going to be the closer, but we're starting from scratch 113 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: sort of with figuring out bullpen rolls. How long does 114 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: that take to develop? You think? I mean, it's obviously 115 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: about performance, and then is it really important to stay 116 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: fluid and not get rigid into that role? 117 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: You know, it's really interesting. I think, first and foremost 118 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: as a guy who I mean, all of my almost 119 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: four hundred games in the big leagues were out of 120 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: the bullpen, so the majority of those games I had 121 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 2: a really good understanding of what my roll or situation 122 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: was going to be. And that was just kudos to 123 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: you know, for the most part, Boach, because I made 124 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: three hundred appearances as a giant, and you know, when 125 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: he puts you in a position to understand when the 126 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 2: phone rings it's going to be your name, it allows 127 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 2: you to be a lot more comfortable and co confident 128 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 2: when that phone rings, as opposed to the adrenaline goes 129 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: through the roof and you have four guys potentially looking 130 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: at themselves being like, is it gonna be me? Is 131 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 2: it going to be you? It's like that Spider Man 132 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: meme where everyone posts poting their fingers at each other. 133 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 2: But I think that, look, this is the big leagues, 134 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 2: and you're also dealing with the guy in Tony Vitello 135 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: who hasn't managed at this level before, and I think 136 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: he's going to do just fine. But it also takes 137 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of getting to know your guys, getting 138 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: to know how everybody responds in certain situations, because that's 139 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: just in my opinion, that's the manager's main job is 140 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: to understand your players and putting them into positions where 141 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 2: they're going to be most successful, knowing what makes them tick, 142 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: knowing what circumstances and situations they can handle and and 143 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: have a lot of success in. And I think early 144 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: on in the season it's kind of going to be 145 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: a feeling out process because you know, he's gotten his 146 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: feet wet in spring training obviously, and you know, how 147 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 2: you manage a major league bullpen is one of the 148 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: most important things to having success is navigating how you 149 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: you know, go through the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth innings 150 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: when you're winning a ballgame. And he's a really bright guy, 151 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: I think he's going to pull the right strings, and 152 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: he's obviously got Boach and Dusty and a lot of 153 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: people behind him Buster who caught all those games for 154 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: all those teams. So I think it's going to be 155 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: just fine, and we'll see if things start to settle 156 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: in over the course of the first month of the Season's. 157 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 3: Talk aout George Kantos on the UMA guest line. The 158 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 3: starting rotation is going to look different as well, with 159 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 3: the additions of Tyler Molly and Adrian hauserd what have you. 160 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: Seen for both of them this spray, George, Well, the 161 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: stuff out of Hauser was great when I saw him 162 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 2: pitch against Team USA and he you know, the stuff 163 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 2: trickled up nicely, and obviously Molly had had a really 164 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 2: nice spring, so you know you got you You have 165 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: the standard Logan Web and Robbie Ray, and I think 166 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: that again, if you can stay healthy, if that rotation 167 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 2: can stay healthy and go out there and do what 168 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 2: it's supposed to, it could be a very very solid rotation. 169 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: I mean, you know exactly what you're going to get 170 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: out of Logan Web. He's proved it for his entire career, 171 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: and he's kind of on cruise control and you hope 172 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: that he continues to stay healthy. Robbie Ray obviously has 173 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: put the Tommy John behind him and had a great 174 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: season last year. You got Landing Roope at the end, 175 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: who I think is poised to make a really nice 176 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: year for himself now that he's kind of got the uh, 177 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: the strings and the rains kind of let go a 178 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: little bit from evolving into a true starter and adding 179 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: that good change up that him and Webb you have 180 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: worked on. And you know, I think the new guys 181 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 2: coming in and have something to prove, right, you want 182 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: to go to a new organization with new threat, with 183 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: new threads on and make sure that you do everything 184 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: you can and make a good impression. And there's no 185 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: better way to you know, make friends in your new 186 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: clubhouse than going out there and keeping up with the 187 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: big with the big boys at the top of the rotation. 188 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm confident in the lineup and what they've put together. 189 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: The bottom of the lineup has to perform. I mean, 190 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: there's a lot of strength outs there with Bata, and 191 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: we're looking for much more from Bailey, but I think 192 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: he's put together some better bats already. He looks different 193 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: this spring than he did last season, and then at 194 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: the end of the year last year he came on strong. 195 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: You ate a much better late second half, did Patrick Bailey. 196 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: I sort of view that as the strength of the team. 197 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: If I were going to pick a weakness, I would 198 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: maybe say the rotating not a weakness. Something that concerns 199 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: me is the rotation, because you just named all those guys, 200 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: but it is a lot of ifs. 201 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 2: Sure, yeah, I mean, look, that's the one thing that 202 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 2: we've seen, at least in our organization is and I 203 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 2: saw it a lot more with Boats just because I 204 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: was watching every game obviously and in it. But the starters. 205 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: The starters would come out of the gate. And what 206 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 2: I loved about kind of those older, those older teams 207 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 2: of a few years back, was the starters would come 208 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: out of the game and in the first few months 209 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: of the season they would be going six to seven 210 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: sometimes eight innings with Timmy and bum and Kaner and Voguee. 211 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: You know, all those guys would come out of spring 212 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 2: training feeling great. And the one thing that I can 213 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: say that's always going to be a benefit is barring. 214 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: You know, starters aren't going out there and not pitching well. 215 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: But if you let those guys the first couple of 216 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: months through the rotation through of the season, If you 217 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: let them go that extra inning or that extra fifteen 218 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: to seventeen pitches and save some of those bullpen innings, 219 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 2: that's going to pay huge dividend for August in September 220 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 2: and a potential playoff push. So I think that if 221 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: these guys can just stay healthy first and foremost, that's 222 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 2: the biggest thing. Obviously, you know Birdie and bird Song. 223 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 2: He's had a little bit of the health bug obviously, 224 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: But if you can keep these guys healthy the start rotation, 225 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: there's no reason why it's not going to be another strength. 226 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 4: Yeah, I want to ask you about bird Song. 227 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 3: He had his struggles a season ago and they carried 228 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 3: over to spring training. 229 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 4: But now he'll be out the year with Tommy John. 230 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 3: So he's still twenty four years old and his whole 231 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 3: career ahead of him. But what advice would you give 232 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 3: to him at his at this point in his career, George. 233 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: You know, he came on and his first four or 234 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: five starts, I was just so impressed with his ability 235 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: to handle some of the chaos and stress within each 236 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 2: of his outings because he had an inning or two 237 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: where things could have really gone gotten sideways, and he's 238 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 2: on the mound, he was talking to himself, He made 239 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: big pitches, he did a great job getting out of it, 240 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: and then you just kind of saw him not maybe 241 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: take that next step in being able to replicate that 242 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 2: in his second year when the league sees you a 243 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: little bit more. You know, I think location was a 244 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: little bit of an issue for him. We all know 245 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 2: that the stuff is just very very good, with the 246 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 2: fastball and the two breaking balls, the slider and the 247 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: curve and the change up. All that stuff is very 248 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 2: very good. But the biggest thing with him is kind of, 249 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: I think the five inches in between the ears and 250 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 2: knowing that when you have to make a good pitch, 251 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 2: either behind in the count or a put away pitch, 252 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 2: whatever that is, knowing that you just have to go 253 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 2: out there and execute it and you don't have to 254 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: do too much jump to make it the nastiest pitch 255 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 2: you've ever thrown. You just have to go out and 256 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 2: execute it. And I think that once he gets the 257 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 2: grasp of that, once he comes back from this elbow 258 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 2: procedure and rehabs it all, there's still a ton of 259 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 2: high upside for him, and I think that he can 260 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: really go and have a really nice career. You just 261 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 2: got to kind of get out of your way a 262 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: little bit sometimes and just believe in the stuff that 263 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 2: you have a. 264 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: Few more minutes with George Contest on the Yuma guest Line. 265 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: Interested in your thoughts on the ABS system, the challenge 266 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: system coming into play and how would you have used it? 267 00:10:58,400 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 4: Would Boach have let you use it? 268 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: Probably not. I think everything's a strike. I mean I 269 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: remember when when we would have we would when I 270 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: was still playing obviously the bullpens. We were on the 271 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: sides of the field, so we were always in the uh. 272 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: We were always in our little bullpen nook underneath the 273 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 2: dugout there, and we had a TV with a live 274 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 2: feed on it, and and we would all have our 275 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 2: little bullpen there and they would throw close pitches, and 276 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: I was one of the more vocal ones that would 277 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 2: just start screaming if it was close. And I would 278 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: start screaming, and then Boat would start yelling at the 279 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: umpire and then somebody would come down like Lois and 280 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:36,719 Speaker 2: then he'd be like, was that a strike? And I'm 281 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: like it could have been. It should have been break there. 282 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 2: But Brandon, Brandon Crawford is one of the guys that 283 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 2: he would always just he would he would give me 284 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 2: such a hard time because he goes, you think everything 285 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 2: is a strike. I go, yeah, well it's close enough. 286 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 2: You guys should protect you know, now the now, the 287 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: the eyes and the strike zone has gotten so defined 288 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: that you know, I think what's going to end up 289 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: happening is the strike zone over the last six seven 290 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 2: years has gotten a lot thinner and a lot taller. 291 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 2: So what what you saw with you know, Greg Maddox 292 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 2: and guys like Roger Clemens who who would start pitches 293 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 2: on the black and then start expanding off the plate. 294 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 2: Those days are gone now. I mean it's just the 295 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 2: strike zone is the strike zone, and you have to 296 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: come in the zone a lot more with what is 297 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: now defined as as something that can be overturned. So 298 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 2: it kind of takes what Patrick Bailey is so so 299 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: good at and framing and stealing strikes. That makes that 300 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 2: a little bit less valuable unfortunately. But to answer your 301 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 2: initial question, boats would are probably never given me free 302 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 2: reign to just start tapping on my head on the mound. 303 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: I was gonna say when you have a guy back there, 304 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: like Buster or Patrick Bailey, like you just let let 305 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: him handle you, let him be the guy, especially for 306 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: the bullpenk you know what I mean, you get. 307 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: A trust exactly, trust those guys. 308 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: I sort of think, and I know we're talking about, 309 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: you know, him maybe taking some away of his his 310 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 1: strikes stealing because there's so few challenges and I know, 311 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: if you get it right, you get to keep it. 312 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: You're not going to challenge everything. I still think he's 313 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: going to get away with a lot more than other 314 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: people will. And because he's such a smart player, because 315 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: he I mean, may be the best catcher at all 316 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: of baseball Ian cal Rawley. Maybe at this point, I 317 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: think this is going to be beneficial, even from his 318 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: standpoint of losing some of that talent. 319 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I agree with you. I would say you 320 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 2: have to be a little bit tactical with when you're 321 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: going to use those I mean, you're not going to 322 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 2: use things in the first inning or you know, stuff 323 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 2: like that unless there's a big situation. But but yeah, 324 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: I mean, look, I think that to your point. I mean, 325 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: the guy's a Gold Glove winner, so he's obviously one 326 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: of the best catchers in all of baseball, and his 327 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 2: ability to catch and throw and frame and do those 328 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 2: things is is just really irreplaceable. So the fact that 329 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: he's back there, he's he is going to do such 330 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 2: a good job as he has been of just reining 331 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: in these pitchers. You know, he knows what he's got 332 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 2: to do. He knows what he's got to say to 333 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 2: these guys, what signals to put down, where to, where 334 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: to you know, set up behind home plate when guys 335 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 2: are maybe not feeling it. So he knows what he's 336 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 2: got to do to get the most out of his pitchers. 337 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 2: And that is a very important skill for a catcher 338 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 2: to have, and not all of them have it. 339 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 3: Last one for you, George, me and Coach were talking 340 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 3: about a last segment where we're talking about our favorite 341 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 3: baseball movies getting ready for the start of the season. 342 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 3: Do you have one in particular that comes to mind 343 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 3: when it comes to your favorite baseball movie? 344 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 2: Oh? Man, I'm asked this question all the time and 345 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 2: I'm never really able to pinpoint just one movie. So 346 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 2: I'll get you three. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna go 347 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 2: ahead and say Major League, The Sam Lot and for 348 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 2: love of the game. 349 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 4: There you go. Nice, there's a big for love of 350 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 4: the game. 351 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: Guy. 352 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: I like that movie too. A lot of people on 353 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: our text line didn't like it. I said, I think 354 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: the baseball in that movie might be some of the best, 355 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: like on screen baseball in any film. 356 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: Well, I want to say that Kevin Coster like played 357 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 2: college baseball, which is why it looks kind of like 358 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 2: he knew what he was doing. 359 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: On the Mounta was his first baseball movie either, you 360 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: know what I mean. Like he's got three of them, George, 361 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: contest the voys you hear on the Yuma Guests and 362 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: when are you in town? 363 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 2: Man? 364 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 4: When's your first series? 365 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 2: My first series is the Dodgers in about three and 366 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 2: a half weeks. 367 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: Three and a half ways, Yeah, that third week of 368 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: April Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 369 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 4: I think they get the Dodgers. 370 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 2: Yep. 371 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: Well, George, I'm looking for an opening day. I always 372 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: appreciate the time. Then, and we'll see you in a couple 373 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: of weeks. 374 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 2: Thanks, George, sounds good, guys, Thanks for having me.