1 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to episode seven of A Ball 2 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: with Eric Ohs. I am eric Os and it is 3 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: good to have you with us, as we have Sean 4 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: Reynolds joining us on this episode, one of the lumber Kings, 5 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: big power bats and sluggers, who was kind enough to 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: take some time while the team was out on the 7 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: road in Bowling Green. It was the longest road trip 8 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: on the season for the lumber Kings, and as we 9 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: record this on May the thirteenth, it's still going on. 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: We're in Burlington now, it's going to be a three city, 11 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: nine day road trip. Now when we talked with Sean, 12 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: it was out in Bowling Green, Kentucky, so the longest 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: road trip in both miles traveled and in games played. 14 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: Had a league wide off day for Mother's Day on Sunday, 15 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: May twelfth, but that was really just a sleep day 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: because the bus it didn't roll until about six seven 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: o'clock in the morning, after the bus had left around 18 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: eleven o'clock at night in Bowling Green. So I imagine 19 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: for everyone it was straight to bed and then you 20 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: wake up and you get right back on the bus 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: down here to Burlington. So it has been a grind 22 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: so to speak, as you would expect, but this was 23 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 1: part of the schedule where we all knew it was coming. 24 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: In the series and road trip that got started for 25 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings, it was not a good one. They 26 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: dropped two out of three out in Dayton. They then 27 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: followed it up with losing two out of three to 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: the Bowling Green hot Rods, a very good team in 29 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: the Bowling Green hot Rods, a team that has gone 30 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: on to a twenty one to fifteen record after taking 31 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: two out of three from the lumber Kings. The single 32 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: a affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays are the Hot Rods, 33 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: and the lumber Kings in that time have seen their 34 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: average earth seen their record slip down to a five 35 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: hundred mark, and that's for the first time since April 36 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: and it was a six and six record. The last 37 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: time the lumber Kings were at the five hundred mark, 38 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: you'd have to go all the way back to April seventeenth, 39 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: so it had been quite a while. In the lumber 40 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: Kings losing their first consecutive seaties of the twenty nineteen season, 41 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: including that series lost to the Dayton Dragons, which we 42 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 1: have heard many times from many players We'll even talk 43 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: with Sean Reynolds about this a little bit. But a 44 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: phenomenal ballpark. It's a Triple A caliber facility. They sell 45 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: out every night, and when the lumber Kings were there 46 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, might think well, that wouldn't 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: be the case. Well, for Dayton, they sell out every night. 48 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: It's been going on for over a decade now. They've 49 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: been having that park for twenty years out in Dayton. 50 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: And they took two out of three from the lumber 51 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 1: Kings in spite of you could really make the argument 52 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings out playing them. As it stands right now, 53 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: one of the quirks to the lumber Kings is a 54 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 1: team that where something has to give because, as we mentioned, 55 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: a five hundred mark as you record this on Monday, 56 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: May thirteenth, seventeen and seventeen on this season, that's in 57 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: fourth place as they get set for the Burlington Bes 58 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 1: a team in the wild card race. There's currently three 59 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: and a half games back or four games back of 60 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: them for that playoff spot. But the record, if you 61 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: just look into the numbers a little bit closer, you'd 62 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: think the team would be a lot better. If you 63 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: ever go to Baseball Reference, they've got the Pythagorean theorem 64 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 1: of baseball, and they have that at the minor leagues 65 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: as well. And so if you look at the lumber 66 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: Kings run differential, which is as it stands right now, 67 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: one hundred and forty two runs scored to one hundred 68 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: and twenty four runs allowed a run differential of eighteen, 69 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,679 Speaker 1: that would translate typically to a far better record. The 70 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: pythagoraan theorey would tell you at nineteen and fifteen team 71 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: is what you're looking at in the lumber Kings, but 72 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: that is not the case here. So looking for something 73 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: a little bit more to give, But as of late 74 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: has just been a lack of offense in the lumber Kings. 75 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,399 Speaker 1: Issues and getting guys in with less than two out 76 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 1: has really been the primary concern. But we did have 77 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: a very scary moment. We've talked about it on the 78 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: broadcast several times. We've also talked about it numerous times 79 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: here on the podcast. Well, because we had the guy 80 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: on our show, Jarar and Carnacion, who has really set 81 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: the theme and toned for the lumber Kings offensively this year. 82 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: He missed his first game of the season in that 83 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: finaleum bowling Green on Saturday night. Now, in finding out 84 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: what had happened to Jerrar, it was an inn that 85 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: had taken place the night before after he had slid 86 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: in at the plate and looked like he had hurt 87 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: his left foot slash ankle and it had swollen up 88 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: a little bit. They then took him out of the 89 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: game the next day. After Jerrar thought he could play 90 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: on it, he grounded out to third. He was out 91 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:15,839 Speaker 1: of the game right after that in the first ending. 92 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: We did not see him then on Saturday, and so 93 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: for in Carnacion, hopefully that league wide off day on 94 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: Sunday helping the swelling and just the foot feeling a 95 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: little bit better. After talking with him, he did mention 96 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: that he's feeling a lot better. He's also walking a 97 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: lot better around the clubhouse and hoping that just a 98 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: couple of days off were able to really alleviate one 99 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: of the lumber Kings' biggest bats of the season. What 100 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: it had meant though for lumber Kings was the insertion 101 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: of Demetria Simms into the three roles. So as we 102 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: give you the full report card down here on the farm, 103 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 1: for the Marlin single affiliate, the clint lumber Kings. We 104 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: have to talk about Demitria Simms. He has been red 105 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: hot as of late. He had been activated from the 106 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: injured list back on April to twenty eighth when the 107 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: team was out in Davenport at Modern Woodman Park, that's 108 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: the sing lay affiliate for the Houston Astros, and he 109 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: has been on a tear ever since. In that time, 110 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: he's gone thirteen for forty that's a three twenty five average. 111 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: And then if you look at his last five games 112 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: just that he's played, he is seven for fifteen, which 113 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: is a four to sixty seven mark. And why Simms 114 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: has got himself an average that is now over the 115 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: three hundred mark for this season. He had a three 116 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: hit night on the first night out in Bowling Green, 117 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: which was on Thursday night. Then he came back in 118 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: the series finale and had a couple of hits as well. 119 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: So Sims no matter where you put him. As the 120 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: team gets a little bit healthier in spite of the 121 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: hopefully day to day injury of Durring Carnacione, but the 122 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: activation of Christopher Torres, it is meant for a far 123 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: more balanced offense and allowing Sims to be in the 124 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: three spot like he was on Saturday Night. He has 125 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: been in the six spot since Torres has been activated, 126 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: and before Torres was activated from the injured list, Simms 127 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: was the two hitter, which is where or where Torres 128 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: has typically been for much of this season. So the 129 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: Lumberkings having another weapon there now as we talk here 130 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: with Sean Reynolds, this is a bat that we had 131 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 1: mentioned a couple of times that had really been heating 132 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: up as of late, and it was the case again 133 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: lumber King's first baseman who has all the power that 134 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: you will see and John Renolds. He's a pretty talkative 135 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: guy too, a very mature first baseman for the lumber Kings, 136 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: so it's always good to docking with him. But he's 137 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: coming off a very impressive series against Bowling Green as well, 138 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: had a couple of doubles in the series finale. Fortunately 139 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings, that was just about it offensively 140 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: for them. Between Reynolds and Simms. It was much of 141 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: the offense against a pitching staff that the lumber Kings 142 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: had found out and the Bowling Green Hot Rods is 143 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: very talented. It's why these strikeouts again began to pile 144 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: up and the offense just kind of went quiet for 145 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: much of that series. They were able to benefit from 146 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: a very strong Chris Vallomont start on Thursday to pick 147 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: up his second straight win and the only win of 148 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: the series. They won that game five to two, and 149 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: Marcos Rivera hit a home run in the ninth. But 150 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: then after that the lumber Kings offense it just went 151 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: away and the strikeouts sixteen of them. The following night 152 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: on Friday in Bowling Green, they would score only two 153 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: runs in that contest and fall three to two, despite 154 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: a late come from behind effort to tie it. And 155 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: then in the finale against the Hot Rods on Saturday night, 156 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings would see themselves score just the one run, 157 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: which came with the bases loaded and a walk worked 158 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: by Ricardo Sesspadis. They would fall in that contest two 159 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: to one. So the pitching for the lumber Kings it 160 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: has been strong again, but it's just a question of 161 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: getting the offense to find some productive outs er just 162 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: to hit with runners in scoring position, because when it 163 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: has stalled, it has usually come with men on base, 164 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: and that's why they come in with a seventeen and 165 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: seventeen record to take on at the Burlington BS. That's 166 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: the single a affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels for 167 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: the first time in the twenty and nineteen season. This 168 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: will be a three game series that will then wind 169 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: down the longest road trip of the season. Appreciate Sean 170 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Reynolds taking some time talk with us. He'll be joining 171 00:07:52,480 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: us next on a ball here with Terrik Goes and 172 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: welcome back here on a ball. We are now joined 173 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: by Sean Reynolds. Thanks for taking the time as we 174 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: record this here in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Thanks for taking 175 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: the time and coming on board with us here, Sean. 176 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: No worries, thanks for having me. 177 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: Well, I guess let's just pick your brain on what 178 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: has been a really interesting road trip for the lumber 179 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: Kings because these cathedrals that we talked about a little 180 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: bit before on the walk up here to the press 181 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: box a lot of fun to play in front of. 182 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs had mentioned yesterday to us that it was 183 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,719 Speaker 1: a really cool experience to see you guys out in 184 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 1: Dayton play in front of sellout crowds on Monday, Tuesday, 185 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: and Wednesday, nights in Dayton, Ohio. What was that experience 186 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: like for. 187 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 3: You, oh man, In terms of my minor league experience 188 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 3: so far in my career, that was that was at 189 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 3: the top of the list. 190 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: Man. 191 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 3: I've never seen anything like that, especially you know, you 192 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 3: go on a road trip and you're thinking maybe if 193 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 3: you luck out and you get a weekend series that 194 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: you might get some fans on the during the games. 195 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 3: And Dayton does it right man, I mean eight eight 196 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 3: nine thousand people three nights in a row with this 197 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,719 Speaker 3: the quality of the stadium too, and you know how 198 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: much it feels like a big league atmosphere with the 199 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 3: stuff they do before the game, with like the hometown 200 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 3: heroes and then they you know, honor different people throughout 201 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 3: the game, all kinds of fun promos in between innings. 202 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 3: It was cool, man. It was definitely, uh, definitely a 203 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 3: fun experience. And you know, one I wish, I wish 204 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 3: we could go back there more often. But it was 205 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 3: cool to experience for sure. 206 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: We did have one critique though, the horn was too loud, 207 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 1: right and too often? 208 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, the horn was well, too often was the main thing. 209 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 3: Too often was the home run horn uh being being 210 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 3: sounded off. But you know it was. It was all 211 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 3: part of it. I'm sure if I was playing on 212 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: the other side, if I was in the Dragon's uniform, 213 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: then I would love every second of it. But as 214 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 3: a as the opposing team, you never want to hear 215 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 3: it as many times as we did, especially in the 216 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: three game series like that. 217 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, Unfortunately, that home run horn was heard four times 218 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings in Game one. I guess five 219 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: if you count the win, because that's also how they 220 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: had done. And it ruined one of our interviews because 221 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: we were talking before the game had started. I think 222 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: it was on night too, and we didn't know that 223 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: the horn would go off for the gates opening, and 224 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: of course it had sabotaged. And that's what we're all 225 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: going to talk about on this episode here with Sean Reynolds. 226 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: What's up with the horn? Just kidding of course. Well, Sean, 227 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: you were taking in the fourth round and I was 228 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: wondering if you could just take us through that experience 229 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: because it's always unique to everyone, right, and you're a 230 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 1: high round pick. So what was that moment like and 231 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: I just take us through. I imagine what was a special 232 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: moment not just for you, but family and friends and 233 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: all that that comes with it. 234 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, man, really that that whole first week of 235 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 3: June and twenty sixteen was kind of a kind of 236 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 3: a wild one for me. We had our our little 237 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: like it wasn't state championship, and it was our Southern 238 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 3: Section because California's so big, it's I know, you're from 239 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 3: San Diego, you're kind of a aware of the cif 240 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 3: thing what they do. We had our Southern Section championship 241 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,719 Speaker 3: game on the fourth we won that. Then it was 242 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 3: I think our senior prom was that same night, so 243 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 3: we had to like bust it out to the game. 244 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 3: We ended up winning, thankfully, you know, rushed back did 245 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: the prom. Then we had like all of our senior events, 246 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 3: our graduation like pre ceremonies, and then it was like 247 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 3: our like last day of school for seniors was the eighth, 248 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: and then you know, June ninth was the draft, and 249 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 3: then June tenth was the day that I was taken. 250 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: So we were sitting at our senior breakfast or whatever 251 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 3: it was. I can't even remember now. It was like 252 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 3: forever ago. 253 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: Well it seems like a blur too. 254 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I'm sitting there, I didn't even eat 255 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: because the morning I was just had my phone in 256 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 3: my hand probably for four hours in a row, just 257 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 3: from the time I woke up to the time it 258 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 3: finally rang. But I didn't couldn't eat anything. Ended up 259 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 3: just uh going back to my house and hanging out 260 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: with my mom and dad and then a couple of 261 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 3: my buddies came over. But it was cool, man, It 262 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 3: was Uh, it was a really good feeling, just you know, 263 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 3: all the excitement and the uncertainty that leads up to 264 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 3: that to finally hear your name called and know that 265 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 3: you know, obviously I knew I was going at that point, 266 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 3: because you know, you called before, and you talk to 267 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: the team, and you talk to you know, your agent, 268 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 3: your advisor, and you agree to what they're talking about 269 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 3: before they go ahead and take you. And you know, 270 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 3: I knew I was going, And to finally hear my 271 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 3: name called and have it official was definitely something I'll 272 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 3: never forget because that's you know, that's the that's the 273 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 3: moment you work your whole life for leading up to 274 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 3: that point as an amateur. 275 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: And when you were going into that moment, was there 276 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: any doubt I know you'd talked to them before and 277 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: essentially said that you were going to be signing. But 278 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: even maybe the build up, was there any thought about 279 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: going into the college ranks or were you committed to 280 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: a pro career right out of high school? 281 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 3: You know, it was uh, it was something that I 282 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 3: really tried to not think about too much. And yeah, 283 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 3: at the outset when I started getting interest from TEA 284 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 3: when I was a senior was like January my senior year. 285 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 2: I was kind of thinking, like, you know. 286 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 3: That'd be cool, but I'm just happy I got somewhere 287 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 3: to go to college and play ball, because that's really 288 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: all I cared about at the time leading up to 289 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: my season. And then the more our season went on 290 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: and the better a year I started having, I was like, Okay, yeah, 291 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 3: maybe this is like you know, maybe I'm kind of 292 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 3: climbing the board a little bit and maybe this is 293 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 3: actually a possibility. And then by the time it came 294 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 3: down to the day, I was like, well, if this 295 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 3: could actually happen, then obviously, you know, why not start 296 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 3: it now, because that's going to college in you know, 297 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 3: it's the college experience is what it is. And I'm 298 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 3: sure you know, you talk to anybody who went to college. 299 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 3: They wouldn't trade it for anything. And I'm sure if 300 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 3: I was this is my first year out of college ball, 301 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 3: then I would say the same thing. But you know, 302 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 3: to me, the way I looked at it, it was 303 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 3: a stepping stone for to get here. And you know, 304 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 3: if you can jump the gun and start out three 305 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 3: years earlier, then you know, in my opinion, that was 306 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 3: like kind of a why not type thing. It might 307 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 3: as well do it because that's where I want to 308 00:13:59,080 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 3: end up anyways. 309 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you are able then I guess to start 310 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: the development process right away, coming right out of high school. 311 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: And you coming off a great season at the New 312 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: York Penn League two. We talk about it all the time. 313 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: You know, you're leading the league and home runs and 314 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: RBIs and what was that season like going in and 315 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: where did you feel like you measured up on the 316 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: goals at the end of the season. 317 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 3: I mean, for me, that was, you know, seventeen home 318 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: runs and however many RBIs I had was you know, 319 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 3: that's obviously as fifty two. Yeah, that's obviously as good 320 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 3: as you can hope to do in a short season. 321 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 322 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 3: Man, honestly, I didn't really have any have any crazy, 323 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: you know, out there expectations for myself. I kind of 324 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 3: didn't have didn't have the best spring training or extended 325 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 3: spring training, you know, those three months that lead up 326 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 3: to a short season. I was kind of kind of 327 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 3: figuring some stuff out, still struggling a little bit just 328 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 3: to just to kind of find the swing that I 329 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 3: knew that I could have. And then once I got 330 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 3: into you know, playing real baseball, as they say, because 331 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 3: extended and you know, spring training games on the backfields 332 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 3: are it's baseball, but it's you know, doesn't feel like 333 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 3: it almost and once you get once you under the 334 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: lights and start playing again, it kind of all came 335 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 3: back to me. 336 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: So that was fun. Man. 337 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 3: It was a good group of guys and we just 338 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 3: had a good time because Batavia is, you know, is 339 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 3: what it is, and you just got to make the 340 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 3: best out of a out of sometimes a subpar situation. 341 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 3: And that's pretty much the whole minor leagues, honestly. Yeah, 342 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 3: it's not always going to be pretty. You know, as 343 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 3: much as I wish we could play in Bowling Green 344 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 3: and Dayton all the time, it's can't do it. So 345 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 3: it's it's just what it is, and you know, the 346 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 3: season was fun. Man, it was a good time. And 347 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 3: you know, same thing so far here. 348 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you had Mike Jacobs out there when we 349 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: had him on the show. He was mentioning your numbers 350 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: and saying, if you then span that over a full season, 351 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: which you're doing here in Clinton, one hundred and forty 352 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: games or one hundred and thirty nine after the flood 353 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: out down in Davenport. But that when you really get 354 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: into scary number totals, those video game number totals that 355 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: you talk about. And it seemed like a pretty close 356 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: relationship between yourself and Mike Jacobs. That must be pretty 357 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: nice too. And having that familiarity I mean over here 358 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: to your full season with the lumber Kings. 359 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. You know I've talked about that before, the bond 360 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 3: that Jake and I have kind of developed since I 361 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 3: met him back in twenty seventeen, And you know, I've 362 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 3: said it before and I'll continue to say it that 363 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 3: the value of that really can't be overstated for just 364 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 3: for me personally. You know, you can ask anybody in 365 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 3: there and they'd take a bullet for Jake because that's 366 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 3: the kind of manager he is, and he cares about 367 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 3: all the guys, and you know he doesn't he doesn't 368 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 3: sugarcoat it, and he'll be as real as you want 369 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 3: with him. But you know he's also he's right there 370 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: in it with us. You know, he thinks like a 371 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 3: player and he's not far out of playing himself. And 372 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 3: just the way he handles everything and how he goes 373 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 3: about his business and how he expects us to go 374 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 3: about our business is everything you could want from a manager. 375 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've heard it from the really the entire coaching 376 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: staff here for the lumber Kings, also hitting coach Frank 377 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: Moore and the pitching coach. I know you don't really 378 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: hang out a little too much because it's different to apartments. 379 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: But markte Felice as well, well, we had some fun 380 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: with you when we were out in Dayton, just talking 381 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: about the analytical side of things when it comes to 382 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: the track man the radar, because I mean, when Sean 383 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: Reynolds gets a hold of one, folks, it's the first 384 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 1: thing you want to look to is track man, how 385 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 1: far did it go? How hard was it hit? And 386 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,239 Speaker 1: because for the longest time, I remember as a kid 387 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: in the nineties during the great home run races of 388 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: McGuire and Sosa. There were five hundred foot home runs 389 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: hit every day because there was a manager who would 390 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,199 Speaker 1: just say, oh, that's five hundred feet, and you just 391 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: put it on the board and then they attached math 392 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: to it. And the five hundred foot home run has 393 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: really gone the way of the Dodo bird. And then 394 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: we see a home run from you out in Clint 395 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: which wasn't five hundred feet, but you would have convinced 396 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: several people I think in the nineties said it was 397 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: I think it was four hundred and fifty six feet. 398 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: And then the next day another home run at exit 399 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 1: velocity of one hundred and thirteen miles per hour. I 400 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: know that you'd mentioned that it doesn't really factor into 401 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: what you think about, but that's got to be in 402 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: the cool factor, right, because when you get a hold 403 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: of one, are you ever interested to just see, like, 404 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: all right, what was the exit velo on that? Because 405 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: that felt really good? 406 00:17:58,040 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 3: Oh of course, I mean, you know, it's fun to 407 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 3: look at after the fact. You know, it's it's something 408 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 3: something funny to joke about after the game and like, oh, 409 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 3: you know that was that was one hundred and whatever, 410 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: one hundred and eleven hundred and ten. But yeah, man, 411 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 3: like you said, I'm in terms of my preparation, that's 412 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 3: really not what I think about. Just because of the 413 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 3: way my swing works and the way that I'm able 414 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 3: to hit the ball. I just know that, like, just 415 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 3: got to make solid contact and the numbers. 416 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 2: Will be there. 417 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 3: And if I think about, you know, trying to create 418 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 3: launch angle or create you know, more bat speed than 419 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 3: I already have than it never really never really goes well. 420 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 3: I think last night, I came off the bench in 421 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 3: the ninth inning pretty cold, and I was, you know, 422 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: we were down by one run, and I was pretty 423 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 3: much in. 424 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 2: The game to try and do one thing, and you know, I. 425 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 3: Was like, admittedly got a little got a little over excited, 426 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 3: and as soon as I try and swing too hard, 427 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 3: then never ends up going my way. So that's just 428 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 3: something that the numbers are all well and good to 429 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 3: mess around with and be able to look at afterwards, 430 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 3: you know. But if I think about any of that 431 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 3: before I go up to the play or before I 432 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: play the game, it's never goes my way. So it 433 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 3: just has to be hit the ball hard and let 434 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 3: it go how it goes well. 435 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: We've seen you at times kind of outthink the defense 436 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: because every time you come up there's an overshift on 437 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: right there's gonna be three and four infielders, it seems 438 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: like sometimes on the right side. And it was I 439 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: think out in Davenport, which is a rare commodity because 440 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: it's the only games that I've been played down there 441 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: at Modern Woomen Park. We saw you drop a bunt down, 442 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: and you're a pretty quick guy for six foot seven, 443 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 1: so that is obviously a thought that you will drop 444 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: a bunt down. I think David Ortiz one time dropped 445 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: a bunt doubled down the line at third because they'd 446 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: just given them that entire side of the field. So 447 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: obviously that's part of the game as well. And I 448 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: was wondering if you could talk to us about that, 449 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 1: because that just shows I guess the chess match that's 450 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: being played right in that moment with the defense shifting 451 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 1: and then you literally taking the are playing by those 452 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: words of I'll take what the defense is giving me, 453 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: like you did the other day out in Davenport. 454 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, you have to, man, especially if it's 455 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 3: you know, if I'm leading off an inning lately, game 456 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 3: it's close, we're up by one, we're down by one. 457 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 3: It's selfish of me not to at least try and 458 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 3: get on for the guys behind me, because you know, 459 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,239 Speaker 3: as much power as I have, and you know, I 460 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 3: know I have the capability of tying a game or 461 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 3: giving us the lead with one swing. It's our lineup is, 462 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 3: in my opinion, as good as anybody's in this entire league. 463 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 3: And there are just as good of hitters behind me 464 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 3: and in front of me. So it's just something that 465 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 3: if I can do it, I might as well do it, 466 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 3: because if I don't, then, you know, to me, that's 467 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 3: just being a selfish hitter, and that's not what I'm about. 468 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, like you said, if that whole 469 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 3: side is open, it's really you really just have to 470 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 3: get it down. There's not really much complication to it. 471 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,199 Speaker 3: It's you have to just let the ball hit the 472 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 3: bat and get it semi pass the pitcher's mount and 473 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 3: I could basically walk to first base. 474 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: It's got to be rewarding too, right too, after that 475 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 1: to just see them maybe kick pebbles a little bit 476 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: like okay, well yeah, just a hit, yeah yeah. 477 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: And you know, and sometimes if it's if it's a 478 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 3: question of an early game at bat and I can 479 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 3: I can drop one down and maybe for the rest 480 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 3: of the game they won't really necessarily overshift that hard. 481 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 3: If I can open up the field just a little bit, 482 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 3: then you know, that's also a huge advantage. 483 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: Well, we had you out at our first community outing 484 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: of this season, which was out in a Commanche. It 485 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: was at an elementary school, and everyone was a big hit. 486 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: You were with JONESI that's Thomas Jones, Bubba Hollins as well, 487 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: and it seemed like a big hit for all the 488 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: kids there. And when we were first getting to know 489 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: you told us that if you weren't in baseball, you'd 490 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: be a high school teacher. So maybe you were fit writing, 491 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: fitting right in with those kids. But what was what 492 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: subject would you be teaching then? If you were teaching 493 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: in high school? 494 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 3: Oh man, I've always been a huge history guy. Okay, 495 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 3: never never into math very much, you know, probably probably 496 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 3: not my strongest subject in school. Very into writing as 497 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 3: much as sometimes in high school I hated doing it. 498 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 3: I always had always had an affinity for history and 499 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 3: writing and English classes. For whatever reason, That's just how 500 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 3: I've always been. So if I had to pick, you know, 501 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 3: probably somewhere between the eighth grade to eleventh grade US 502 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 3: world history range something like that. I don't know, man, 503 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:12,479 Speaker 3: I really haven't thought about it in a while, but 504 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 3: I remember when I was about sixteen, I was like, yeah, 505 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 3: I could see myself doing this, and then obviously plans change, 506 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 3: and yeah, lucky, I don't have to worry about that 507 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 3: for at least as long as possible. 508 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: Now exactly as long as possible. And again, thanks for 509 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: doing that. It seemed like, again a bunch of kids 510 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: that became lumber Kings fans. You were leading the charge 511 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 1: and go lumber Kings. So, like I said, it seemed 512 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: like you were part of the faculty and staff at 513 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: a Commands elementary school. Of course we mentioned two, right, 514 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: But a guy that has really bounced around a lot, right, 515 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: You've called a lot of places home, and we're wondering 516 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: if you could take us through all those because you 517 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: were telling me an interesting story of baseball coming full 518 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: circle for you in a certain degree as well. 519 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 520 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 3: Let's see, I grew up for the better part of 521 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 3: my you know, up to about the time I was 522 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 3: ten or eleven in Missoula, Montana, and. 523 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: That place is awesome. Man. 524 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 3: You know, for three months out of the year, it's 525 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 3: probably the best place that I've ever called home just 526 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 3: in terms of weather. And I'm a big outdoors guye 527 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 3: you know, having grown up in Montana, I was always 528 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 3: into camping and backpacking and mountain biking and hiking and 529 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 3: all that stuff. But for those other nine months out 530 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 3: of the year, that's just it's just pure misery. 531 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: Man. 532 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, gray and cold and rainy, and you never want 533 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 3: to go outside. So that was that played a factor 534 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 3: into us. Ended up moving away and actually moved from 535 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 3: there to Jupiter, Florida, which, you know, like you said, 536 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 3: funny enough, is where our spring training is located. And 537 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 3: when I was, you know, twelve thirteen, I used to 538 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:47,239 Speaker 3: play used to play I think again something like that, 539 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 3: maybe Junior Little League on those backfields at the quad. 540 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 3: So we'd play there all the time, which was really 541 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 3: funny to me. When I got drafted, I didn't even 542 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 3: think about it until I was like getting ready to 543 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 3: go on the plane. 544 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 2: I was like, wow, you know, I'm going back to 545 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 2: where it all started place I used. 546 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 3: To play when I was just becoming a teenager. So 547 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 3: that was kind of funny and then obviously, uh, going 548 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 3: into eighth grade and moved out to California. My dad 549 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 3: got a job at Los Angeles International Airport, and that 550 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 3: was you know, that was where I called home and 551 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 3: where I still call home. You know, that's probably the longest, 552 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 3: going on eight years now, the longest I've lived in 553 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 3: one place continuously growing up. So that uh, Wheredondo is, 554 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 3: uh is where I call home and that's where I have, 555 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 3: you know, all my buddies from high school and whatnot. 556 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: So was it always baseball for you? Because again, I mean, 557 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: you're six foot seven, so you'd think basketball, right, of course, 558 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure it's a question you get all the time, 559 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: and maybe even some high school football coaches would think, 560 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: all right, we could be doing something with this guy here. 561 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: But were there any other sports or was it mainly 562 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 1: just baseball? Growing up? 563 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 3: Internally, I always knew it was baseball. 564 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 2: Uh. 565 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 3: It's always been my favorite sport for whatever reason. I 566 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 3: my mom and dad have told me for ever that 567 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 3: I've you know, I picked up a bat one time 568 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 3: when I was two or three years old and just 569 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 3: started swinging at left handed and then that was pretty 570 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 3: much the end of story. But you know, I dabbled 571 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 3: with a few, uh with a few seasons in basketball, 572 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 3: and funny enough is people have a hard time bleeding that. 573 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 3: I was really never super tall. I was tall for 574 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 3: my age, obviously, but my freshman year of high school, 575 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 3: I was about five ten and a half. 576 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 1: Wow, she had a growth when was that? 577 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? 578 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 3: So then sophomore year, I uh was about pushing six 579 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 3: foot maybe six foot and a half, six to one 580 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 3: going into my first day of school sophomore year. Fast 581 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 3: forward a year, first day of school, junior year high school, 582 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 3: I was about six or five and a half. So 583 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 3: that's about You're looking at like six and a half 584 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 3: inches in one year. 585 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 2: And that was tough, man. 586 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 3: Obviously, when you grow that tall that fast, the muscle 587 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 3: growth usually doesn't come with it. So I was lucky 588 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 3: then I was as tall and as skinny as you 589 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 3: could possibly be as uh it was about six five 590 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 3: six six, like one hundred and ninety pounds, wow, And 591 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 3: it was it was tough man. I obviously, you know, 592 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 3: took a hard time from a lot of my buddies 593 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 3: just because it was like I had to relearn how 594 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 3: to use my whole body because my legs were so long, 595 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 3: my arms were so long. I really didn't know, you know, 596 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 3: muscles really haven't developed yet. I was barely going on seventeen, 597 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 3: and I really didn't know how to use all that 598 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 3: length and size that I had been given. So by 599 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 3: that time I was already, you know, fully invested in baseball. 600 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 3: And after that, I mean never basketball never really was like, 601 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 3: never really thought about it and are thankfully our high 602 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 3: school basketball team was as good as any high school 603 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 3: team in the country, so they didn't need me. They 604 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 3: were all set, so I was I just got to 605 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 3: stick with baseball. 606 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: That's a great story too, and explaining too, just having 607 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: to come into your own body. I'm happy that it 608 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 1: has translated too, because this is one of the big 609 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: sluggers here for the Clint lumber Kings. John Reynolds, thanks 610 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: so much for taking the time here to with us 611 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: on a ball. 612 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, worries man, thank you for having me. 613 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: And welcome back here on a ball with Eric Ost. 614 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: You had just heard from the lumber Kings really every day. 615 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: First baseman Sean Reynolds talking about really growing into a 616 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: big frame. I mean he's six foot seven, so we 617 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: did have to ask the basketball question, which I'm sure 618 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: Sean had seen coming from a mile away, and we 619 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,239 Speaker 1: appreciate him putting up with us in that instance, and 620 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: also for telling us about what was a pretty interesting 621 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 1: transition when you talk about his spurts and getting accustomed 622 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: to that six foot seven frame. Happy to see that 623 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 1: he is now familiar with the longer legs and arms. 624 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: That has resulted in the power and the selection for 625 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 1: the Miami Marlins to take him in the fourth round 626 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: a couple of seasons ago. The lumber Kings with that 627 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: power bat in an offense that you heard Reynolds talk 628 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: about is he thinks they're the best in all of 629 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: the Midwest League. He put him up against anyone, and 630 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: this is a very talented league that we have talked about. 631 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: The lumber Kings finding that out in their six game 632 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: road trip or start up the nine game road trip 633 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: of their first six games against the Dayton Dragons and 634 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: then also against the Bowling Green hot Rods. But the 635 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: offense which has come at times, has been stalling as 636 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: of late and is why a seventeen and seventeen record 637 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: they have found themselves in before they begin their series 638 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: with the Burlington Bees again. We record this on Monday, 639 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: May thirteenth here in Burlington, Iowa. Now let's go over 640 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: some of the pitching numbers though for the lumber Kings 641 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: before we let you go a team that has had 642 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: incredibly strong performances both out of the bullpen and out 643 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: of the star rotation. But as of late, it has 644 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 1: been beginnings, so outside of the Bowling Green Series, and 645 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: we were talking about this with the pitching coach Mark 646 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: de Felise, beginnings that have sunk the lumber Kings and Dayton. 647 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: It looked like a game in which they had outplayed 648 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: the Dragons in the finale of that series, lumber Kings 649 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: ron top three to nothing, kind of cruising, gave up 650 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: two runs in the third. Still it looked like the 651 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,239 Speaker 1: starter in that case, Tanner Andrews, was settling down at 652 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: a one two three fourth inning, and then the beginning came. 653 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: Seven runs, ten men came up in the fifth inning 654 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: that would defeat the lumber Kings, as they would then 655 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 1: fall nine to four in that one or nine to 656 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: five rather and then the previous contests against the East, 657 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: which had started out in Clinton. You look at the 658 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: West Michigan series, the lumber Kings giving up nine runs 659 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: in the first game of that series, which was game 660 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: one of the doubleheader. They then won the second game 661 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: of the doubleheader, but in the finale, with a chance 662 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: to win the series, they were beaten again by the 663 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: beginning eleven men coming up against them in the fifth inning. 664 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: They allowed six runs. At one point in this series 665 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: or in the season going into Bowling Green, the lumber 666 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: Kings had allowed just about twenty percent of their runs 667 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: in innings in which they had allowed five runs or 668 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: more and was all contributing to losses, which over a 669 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: stretch of sixteen games, the lumber Kings had won only 670 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: consecutive contests once and those were the first two series 671 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: or first two games of his series with the South 672 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: Bend Cubbs back on it made the third and May 673 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: the fourth. Other than that, it was a win one day, 674 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 1: a loss the next day, win the next day, lose 675 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: the next day, and so it was very hard to 676 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 1: get anything going. And an example of that would be 677 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: a start from George Soriano. Now Soriano, who we've talked 678 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: about having a great start to the season, a guy 679 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,239 Speaker 1: that Mike Jacobs has mentioned several times he's been very 680 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: impressed with because it's the first time he's played under 681 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: lights in his professional career, and he was living up 682 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: to that mantra. Through the first seventeen and two thirds 683 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: innings of work of the season, Soriano zero home runs allowed. Well, 684 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: then over the next two appearances, Soriano would allow five 685 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: of them. He allowed it two in that monster inning 686 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: against West Many, Michigan, in which they allowed nine runs 687 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: in that series opener and did not get out of 688 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: the first inning. He recorded only one out, and then 689 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: the next start came out in Dayton, he allowed three runs. 690 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: They were all solo home runs for the Dragons, and 691 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings would eventually fall in that one because 692 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: of the other big inning when the Dragons would explode 693 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: for their seven runs in the fifth inning. So home 694 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: runs that were allowed from Soriano to the Dayton Dragons, 695 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: which went a long way to what Reynolds and I 696 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: had referred to as that loud horn being played over 697 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: and over again. But as Reynolds kept us honest, it 698 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: was probably something that we were more annoyed with because 699 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: of it occurring to us as opposed to being part 700 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: of the festivities. Well that was the case for Soriano. 701 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 1: He then rebounded against Bowling Green in that final series, 702 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: final game of the series on Saturday, but unfortunately not 703 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: backed by a whole lot of offense, George would go 704 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: five plus Sennings give up just the two runs six 705 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: hits he walked to and struck out three. Still got 706 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 1: the loss and is now zero to three on the season. 707 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: But overall for the pitching staff for the lumber Kings, 708 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 1: they're among the top in the Midwest League of three 709 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: to zero five run average as a team. Now the 710 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 1: era for the starters has ballooned a little bit because 711 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 1: of those large innings, and that's a three point five 712 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: mark on the season, but you have to be really 713 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: impressed with the relievers as of late as well, which 714 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: you just have to give justice to a two point 715 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: four to eight earned run average as a core a 716 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: relieving corps, and that comes over one hundred and thirty 717 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: innings for the lumber Kings so far on the year. 718 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: And a big guy that we wanted to highlight too 719 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: was Nathan Alexander, because here was someone who really nailed 720 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 1: down the lumber Kings win against the against the Dayton Dragons, 721 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 1: which ended up being their only series win of that 722 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: three game set out in Dayton, Alexander had come on 723 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: in the ninth inning and what was a close game, 724 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: because well, it seems like that's the way the lumber 725 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: Kings have played most of their contests, and they needed it. 726 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: It was their first shutout win of the season. Alexander 727 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: was a fastball up around the mid nineties ninety three 728 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: to ninety four, had a beautiful curve ball that he 729 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: was working off as a off of as well. It's 730 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: what Mark Felice had highlighted when we had talked to 731 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: him on a pregame show broadcast out in Bowling Green 732 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: of how impressive Alexander had looked in that one, two 733 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: three ninth inning. He picked up the save, two strikeouts 734 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 1: as well. A great combination of a power fastball and 735 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: that curve ball that the lumber Kings may be leaning 736 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: on a little bit more in tight situations. But as 737 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: we mentioned, the first shutout win of the season for 738 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings, and there have been several opportunities, but 739 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: they've now played in over thirty three games or thirty 740 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: four games now on the year, and that is the 741 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 1: only one kind of odd to think about. As we 742 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 1: record this again on May the thirteenth, but just one 743 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 1: of the quirks on how the record has gone for 744 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: Clinton so far. And we will also be keeping a 745 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: close eye on Jerarian Carnascione, mentioning the foot slash, ankles 746 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: swelling that had occurred, and we're hoping that he'll be 747 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: back in the lineup, as he is leading the league 748 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: and seems like just about everything, and if he's not 749 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: leading the league, he's among the league leaders in it. 750 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: So as we record this again on the thirteenth of May, 751 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: Carnacion leading the Midway League when it comes to total 752 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: basis and that is a total of seventy RBIs, twenty 753 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,799 Speaker 1: nine hits forty three. He has an ops of nine 754 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: to fifty five, that the second best in the league. 755 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: He has six home runs that's the second best in 756 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 1: the league, a three thirty nine batting average which is 757 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: the third best in the league owed. Also he's got 758 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: fifteen multi hit games. That's how Jahari Carnacione has begun 759 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,800 Speaker 1: the season so certainly a big part of the lumber 760 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,239 Speaker 1: Kings offense that a lot of Marlins fans lumber Kings 761 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: fans out there are hoping that he'll be healthy to 762 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: continue the twenty nineteen campaign, so he's really been not 763 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,879 Speaker 1: only the everyday right fielder, but every day three hitter 764 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings, and he hits right in front 765 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,239 Speaker 1: of Sean. Reynolds also wanted to mention the emergence of 766 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: Will Banfield as of late, had hit had him on 767 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:48,439 Speaker 1: the podcast a little bit a couple of episodes ago, 768 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: and Will has been heating up. He had a couple 769 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: of multi hit games on this road trip lumber Kings 770 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: Catcher and also serving at times now in the DH roll. 771 00:34:57,360 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 1: He had a two hit night back on it made 772 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 1: the tenth in Green or before that had gone with 773 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:05,720 Speaker 1: a three hit performance which had occurred out in Dayton 774 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: on the eighth, and so Banfield's average now well over 775 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 1: the two hundred mark on this season, and it's been 776 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: coming with some power as well. In the Dayton Dragon series, 777 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: Will had had six RBIs and was a big part 778 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: of the offense for the lumber Kings, including having a 779 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: two RBI hit in the first genning of an eventual 780 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,279 Speaker 1: loss on May the eighth. He then backed it up 781 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,480 Speaker 1: with another RBI single on the seventh. So Banfield has 782 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:30,839 Speaker 1: not only had the hits, he's also had the runs 783 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 1: driven in which have been few and far between as 784 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: of late, and so Will Banfield will try to carry 785 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 1: that into the Burlington B Series and then on into 786 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 1: the Cedar Rapids Kernel Series as well, which will occur 787 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: on May the sixteenth through the nineteenth. And now is 788 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 1: the part where we shamelessly plug the broadcast. You can 789 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 1: listen to all lumber Kings games if you're in the 790 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 1: broadcast range on one hundred point three FMWCCI, or for 791 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 1: those of you who listen on the interwebs, you can 792 00:35:58,719 --> 00:36:01,040 Speaker 1: find us there as well. For all of the lumber 793 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: Kings action in twenty nineteen at Lumberkings dot com via 794 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,919 Speaker 1: the tune in radio app get a chance to listen 795 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: to the lumber Kings take on the Western Division. Now 796 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:12,600 Speaker 1: is that is all it will be against for the 797 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 1: remainder of the first half, a team that is in 798 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,840 Speaker 1: the playoff race but struggling as of late and looking 799 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:20,720 Speaker 1: to build behind the success of the likes of Sean 800 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: Reynolds and Will Banfield and Demetrio Sims that have been 801 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: heating up the lumber Kings on the roster move side 802 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,080 Speaker 1: of things, though have not really had a whole lot 803 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 1: of action outside of Christopher Torres been activated from the 804 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:34,840 Speaker 1: injury list and then seeing Sam Castro sent down to 805 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,479 Speaker 1: extended spring training. It has been a static lineup since 806 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: then for the lumber Kings, but that is a good thing. 807 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 1: They're trying to get a little bit healthier and of 808 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 1: course a little bit healthier for Gerar and carnassioone's sake. 809 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 1: The pitching which has been incredibly sharp as well, certainly 810 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,919 Speaker 1: deserving a lot better than they have gotten as of late. 811 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: And you look at the rotation success of George Soriano. 812 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 1: We mentioned Chris Vaalamont as well, who has won his 813 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: last two starts after not receiving a whole lot of 814 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,280 Speaker 1: run support through his first five on this season, also 815 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: highlighting Nathan Alexander as a new weapon out of the bullpen, 816 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:10,359 Speaker 1: and the lumber Kings have also been seeing impressive performances 817 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,960 Speaker 1: from the likes of Tyler Mitchell and Tyler Jones, and 818 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:14,840 Speaker 1: just wanted to give you one note too before we 819 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: let you go, and Tyler Jones likely to be moved 820 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 1: into the starting role for the lumber Kings, one of 821 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: the bullpen arms that has been so effective that has 822 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 1: an era south of two right now, and so in 823 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: the second half, and talking with Mark d Felise, he 824 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: mentioned that Jones will likely be piggybacking in the starts 825 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: and so will now begin to see Jones stretched out 826 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: through the bullpens, so from two innings to three and 827 00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: then eventually going up to four and five. So he'll 828 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 1: be ready for the second half and a starting role 829 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:43,839 Speaker 1: that will be in piggyback fashion and then also and 830 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,240 Speaker 1: when he takes the ball by himself, So Tyler Jones, 831 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: that's the movement on the pitching front for the lumber Kings. 832 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,319 Speaker 1: Alex Messi has also been a common arm that has 833 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: been called on, but right now the big issue lumber 834 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:56,160 Speaker 1: Kings they just need some runs and Sean Reynolds will 835 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,359 Speaker 1: hopefully be a big part of that. He's been heating 836 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,239 Speaker 1: up as of late and average that's now for the 837 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:02,880 Speaker 1: two hundred mark five home runs on this season that 838 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: has also included sixteen RBIs and so the lumber Kings 839 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,840 Speaker 1: offense that even Reynolds had mentioned he thinks they could 840 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,359 Speaker 1: go up against anyone in this league and we've seen 841 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,240 Speaker 1: flashes of it. It's just a question of the consistency 842 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 1: on a nightly basis and a team that is now 843 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,000 Speaker 1: fighting to climb over the five hundred mark at a 844 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:23,440 Speaker 1: seventeen and seventeen mark as they meet their bitter rivals, 845 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,319 Speaker 1: the Burlington Bees That Will Do It here for episode 846 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 1: number seven of A Ball with Eric Goes. I want 847 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: to thank you everyone for listening to this episode until 848 00:38:32,719 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: next week. We will talk to you then