1 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: the fish Stripes podcast channel where we cover your Miami 3 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: Marlins every day in our own way. You can find 4 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: fish Stripes wherever you use the Internet, wherever you use 5 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, et cetera. 6 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: Search fish Stripes and you'll find us there with different 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: content offerings on each of those platforms. Wherever you're listening 8 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: to this episode right now this podcast. Come back frequently 9 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: to this podcast feed for all sorts of different audio 10 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: coverage and analysis of the Marlins. Aside from the official show, 11 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: we had Big Fish Small Pod on weekday mornings. We 12 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: have Fish Stripes Unfiltered every other week. We have special 13 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: podcasts in between, such as the What a Relief series 14 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: and much more here on fish Stripes. Subscribe to us 15 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: rate and review wherever applicable to get everything that we 16 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: offer at fish Stripes, the entire package of reporting and 17 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: analysis and opinions and historical perspectives, much more. Check out 18 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: fishstripes dot com. Go to fishstripes dot com for your 19 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: off day enjoyments. We'll get right into it. My interview 20 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: with mister Marlin Jeff Conine. This really happened, and right 21 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: off the top, I need to give thanks to a 22 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: Fish Stripes alum and a friend arm Layden of Just 23 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: Baseball for making this conversation possible. What I wanted to 24 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: talk about with Jeff, of of course, is Marlin's playing career, 25 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: one of the most productive players in Marlin's franchise history. 26 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: On a shortlist of figures in the Marlins organization that 27 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: was part of both the nineteen ninety seven and two 28 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: thousand and three World Series Championships. I wanted to talk 29 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: to Jeff Conine, the father, the one who is a 30 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: dad to Griffin Conine, current outfielder in the Marlins organization 31 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: playing at Double A Pensacola for these last couple of years, 32 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: in their relationship, how he views his role in Griff's 33 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: career as he is working his way through the organization 34 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: as a professional player of his own in somebody who 35 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: aspires to very soon break through to the major leagues, 36 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: following in his father's footsteps. And lastly, Jeff Conine the coach. 37 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: He formally got into coaching just within the past year plus, 38 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: and I wanted to see exactly what he did during 39 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: that experience, get his feedback on some issues that the 40 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: Marvelins are dealing with, of course at the major league level, 41 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: where they could kind of be in need of some 42 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: expert perspective from somebody who has been there before as 43 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: a player. There were a couple particular things that I 44 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: won his feedback on when it comes to young players, 45 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: when it comes to hitting left handed, pitching things he 46 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: did very well. Things. I think he communicated fairly well 47 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: if he were ever in a coaching position hypothetically with 48 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: this Marlins organization. Lastly, we looked at what he wants 49 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: to do next with his career. All he ever has 50 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: known is baseball. He says it right here in our conversation, 51 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: and he still has that energy and still has that 52 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: desire to contribute to the baseball community. Take a listen, 53 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: enjoy here on the Official Show, My conversation with Marlin's 54 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: Legend Jeff Conine. It's Eli Sussman here on the Official Show. 55 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: Usually this is where I would say that I'm being 56 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: joined by a special guest, but that is such an understatement. 57 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: It's Jeff Frickin' co nine. There he is. He needs 58 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: no introduction for you longtime Marlins fans. When Fishtrice began 59 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: doing podcasts on a consistent basis a few years ago. 60 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: One of the objectives was to bring you conversations just 61 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: like this with people who have been indispensable to the 62 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: Marlins organization. Can't do any better than mister Marlin himself, 63 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: the two time World Series champ who played more than 64 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: one thousand games for the Fish. We appreciate you coming on, Jeff. 65 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: How's it going. 66 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: It's going great, and my pleasure to be here at 67 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: ya for. 68 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: People that aren't aware you and my buddy arm Leyden. 69 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: For like the last year, you've had a podcast there 70 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: with just Baseball called Outside the Box, and I know 71 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: almost every episode you have this guess the Jersey segment 72 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: of it, where so I have a version of that 73 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: because I've seen the way that you remember stuff from 74 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: your career, and you seem to have a good understanding 75 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: for trivia and all that. I was looking back on it, 76 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: and even though it's been like fifteen years since you 77 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: hung them up, there are still two pitchers that you 78 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: faced as a big leaguer who are still pitching in 79 00:04:58,800 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: the big leagues. 80 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: Do you know who the are? Yikes? Wow, fifteen years 81 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: starters or leavers? Can you give me that. 82 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're both starters. 83 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 2: Both Okay, they're both. 84 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: Starters back then. They're both still starters right now. 85 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 2: Wow, dang uh, I'm stumped. You gotta give me, you 86 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 2: gotta give me a hint. 87 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: Teams, well, okay, one of them is with the Astros 88 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: right now. That's a pretty big ends. 89 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: Mm hmm uh geez Astros right now. 90 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, as a starter, as a starter, this is this 91 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: is a pretty easy one. This is the one I 92 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: felt pretty company. 93 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: I'm the worst I've been watching much baseball. You gotta 94 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: help me. 95 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: What is it You don't remember facing Justin Verlander? Oh, 96 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: at our beginning. It must have been a rookie back then, 97 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: very beginning with the Tigers. The trickier one is this 98 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: must have been the final season in two thousand and seven, 99 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: Rich Hill, when you were in Cincinnati, I guess in 100 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: the same division with him for a couple of months, 101 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: and you faced them a couple of times, and he 102 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: is still going along with the Red Sox and. 103 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: Crazy crazy for two people playing that, it's because it 104 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: seems like an eternity ago that I was playing so right, 105 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 2: you know. 106 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm surprised to find them, But that goes exactly 107 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 1: where I was looking at next in terms of how 108 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: it seems like I was wondering how closely you do 109 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,119 Speaker 1: follow Major League baseball these days? 110 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 2: Obviously you can tell not not very clear. I know 111 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: Julie Vado was just breaking in as a rookie when 112 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: I was with the Rets my very last year, So 113 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: that's right. He's been there for a long long time 114 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: and doing quite well right right. 115 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: One other aside from Major League Baseball, you probably know 116 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: that the World Baseball Classic is come into Miami next year. 117 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: Have you heard about that? And I have heard about 118 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: that because the interesting timing of it is that they 119 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: just started that event right when your playing career was 120 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: winding down in like two thousand and six, and now 121 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: finally having it come up. Most of the games of 122 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 1: the tournament are going to be in Miami this coming March. 123 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: I think. So is that something that if it was 124 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: kind of at its full peak during your career, is 125 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: that's something that would have been a priority for you 126 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: to try to play for that and represent your country. 127 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely, you know when you are in Major League Baseball, 128 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: and you know, back in the college days when amateur 129 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: baseball was huge and the Olympics was going on with 130 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 2: these they filled their teams with amateur college players. That 131 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: would always been a dream of mine to go represent 132 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: your country at the Olympics and or now the World 133 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: Baseball Classic, because there's nothing like putting on that USA uniform. 134 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: Just by observation, I'm a big fan of the Olympics. 135 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: I've always loved that. My dad was Olympians. So if 136 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: I couldn't have been a professional athlete, I would have 137 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: loved to have picked a sport somewhere in one of 138 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: the Olympics and tried for that. But you see the 139 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: energy and the excitement that surrounds these World Baseball Classic games, 140 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: especially from the Latin countries, and it would have been 141 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: very excited to be part of. 142 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: Now you have been at Lone Depot Park this year 143 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: at least once right at the start of the season 144 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: as part of hanging the banners finally the World Series 145 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: banners up in the rafters that a lot of people 146 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: have been clamoring for that they felt that they needed 147 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: that extra signal to celebrate. Was in those two separate years. 148 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: Certainly the peaks of this Marlins organization back then, And 149 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: we'll get into it in a little bit. While they 150 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: had the twenty fifth anniversary of the ninety seventeen. This season, 151 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: you were out of town coaching FIU, and we'll get 152 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: into that in a second. What I was wondering kind 153 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: of related to this is that it's pretty easy to 154 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: celebrate the guys who made it to the top and 155 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: won it all, but you were part of most of 156 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: part of teams before ninety seven and after three with 157 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: the Marlins of guys who were really talented, really productive, 158 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: but weren't part of those World Series teams. I'm curious 159 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: if there are players who weren't on those teams but 160 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: you were teammates with with the Marlins that you feel 161 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: get a little overlooked historically. That really jumped out to 162 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: you that you feel like should be gained more love 163 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: in hindsight what they did as Marlins. 164 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, growing pains when we started off in 165 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 2: ninety three, Obviously you're going through a new organization. You've 166 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 2: got kind of people plucked from all other different organizations 167 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 2: to make your major league roster, and we're kind of 168 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: growing up and in the organization. We lost ninety eight 169 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 2: games that first year, were sixty four and ninety eight, 170 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: and I think one of the the true stars of 171 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: that team, and a guy that facing him was one 172 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 2: of the most uncomfortable at bats I've ever had, was 173 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 2: Brian Harvey. Unfortunately, he had an arm injury the following 174 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 2: year in ninety four, I believe or ninety five. I 175 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: never really made it back to that dominant force. But 176 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: I don't know if people were remember that he saved 177 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 2: forty six of our sixty four games that first year 178 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 2: in twenty or nineteen ninety three, and I think it's 179 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: still a record of percentage of saves as far as 180 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,719 Speaker 2: percentage of the team's wins for an entire season, he 181 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: saved the most. So one of the most devastating pitches, 182 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 2: single pitches I think I've ever seen, was that forkball 183 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 2: that he had and just an awesome dude, And I 184 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 2: wish he could have stayed healthy and lasted to see 185 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: that through into ninety seven, you know. And then obviously 186 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 2: Wayne Heisinger went out there and opened the pocketbook and 187 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: we got some studs going into ninety seven that really 188 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: propelled us to the World Series Championship. And I think 189 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 2: a lot of people don't realize how good we were. 190 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: After the three teams four and five you know, we 191 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: went out and got Carlos Delgado for one of those years, 192 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: we got Paula Duca. I mean, we were stacked and 193 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 2: had really good chances to win both those years as well. 194 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: We were right in it to the very end. And 195 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: you look at specific guys. Todd Jones had a remarkable 196 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 2: closing season. Armanto Benite has had a remarkable closing season. 197 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 2: I think they both had One had fifty one saves, 198 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: one had forty seven. I think, I mean, if they weren't, 199 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: you know, the role age relief pitchers of the year, 200 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 2: they should have been, because they were. They had remarkable seasons. 201 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 2: And you know, we just had that staff that you know, A. J. 202 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: Burnett wasn't on are he was injured early on, but 203 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 2: in four and oh five he was a stud. 204 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: You know. 205 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: Five, he had one of the greatest stretches I've ever 206 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 2: seen of about ten games during the middle of the 207 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: season where he was absolutely dominant. So yeah, you know, 208 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 2: there's a lot of names that have come through the 209 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: Marlins that have gone otherwords or to other organizations and 210 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 2: done very well. So a lot of great names, a 211 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: lot of great memories. 212 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: You mentioned that even if you're not following the current 213 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: major leagues right now, I'm sure you're following the minor 214 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: leagues where your son, Griffin Conine two years ago traded 215 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: to the Marlins organization, and all he's done since then 216 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: is he leads their minor league system by wide margin 217 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: and home runs. He leads them in RPIs. He's with 218 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: double A Pensacola right now. Three one is swinging a high, 219 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: deep drive laft center towards the gap, Dean after. 220 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 2: It and gone light power power to the opposite field 221 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 2: for Griffin Conine. 222 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: And so I have a few questions on him and 223 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: how involved you are with his career at this point. 224 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: How often do you talk during the season, What sort 225 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: of things do you talk about in terms of trying 226 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: to separate being a dad from wanting the best of 227 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: his career, and how that entire relationship plays out when 228 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: he's a professional player who's getting pretty close to maybe 229 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,079 Speaker 1: realizing his dream. 230 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think early on I didn't want 231 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 2: to be that dad that was all over him and 232 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 2: made him play baseball, And I might have gone too 233 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: far the other way as far as back and off 234 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 2: and letting him make his own decisions, which he did. 235 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: You know, he didn't even play baseball for a couple 236 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 2: of years, was more in a skateboarding than he was baseball. 237 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: And then he went to Pine Crest in Fort Lauderville 238 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: Pine Crest High School and got a little spot playing 239 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: time at the very end of his freshman year, made 240 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 2: the team his sophomore year, but was, you know, just 241 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 2: an okay player. And people would ask me, you know, 242 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: what do you think is in the future for Griffin, 243 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 2: And I'm like, well, you know, he's really into it 244 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: and kind of maybe Division two, maybe Division three baseball, 245 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: And well, that summer he had an awesome summer. He 246 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 2: grew up, got the weight room, put on some weight, 247 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 2: grew about four inches, and all of suddeny comes back 248 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: for his junior year and just absolutely tears it up. 249 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: And you know, the bar got much higher that summer 250 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 2: between his sophomore year and junior year. So then he 251 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: became a Division one player. He went to Duke University, 252 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 2: and you know, ever since then, he's developed this. He's 253 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 2: always had a beautiful swing, a beautiful power swing. He's 254 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 2: never really tried to at the old you know, launch 255 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: angle stuff, and it just kind of naturally built into 256 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 2: his swing. And what I've always talked to him about 257 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: is more approach. I want to talk to him about 258 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: his approach to at bats and how he constructs his 259 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 2: at bats. What is he looking for for certain pitches 260 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: and for certain teams. That is more what I talk 261 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 2: to nowadays with him, And you know, being a dad 262 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: that's gone through it all and been through the minor leagues, 263 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: I know it's how hard it is, and it's tough 264 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: sometimes to watch because when he struggles, I struggle, you know, 265 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 2: and I know what he's going through. I know exactly 266 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: how he's feeling, and so but I try to be 267 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: as positive as possible all the time. I just try 268 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: to pick his brain and let him tell me how 269 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 2: he's feeling, and then we can try and tweak stuff 270 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: from there, and I'll send him stuff that I might 271 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: see here or there. Mechanically, but more often than not, 272 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: mechanics are messed up by a flawed thought process. So 273 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: that's where I've always concentrated. And he's done a fantastic job. 274 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 2: He's very analytical about the game and his swing and mechanics, 275 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 2: and I try to get him more thinking on the 276 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 2: mental side rather than the mechanical side. But I couldn't 277 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: be more proud of what he's become. 278 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: Have you had an opportunity to speak with and get 279 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: to know at all Kim Ang as a GM or 280 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: any of her other top lieutenants on the player development side. 281 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: How familiar are you are you with the people that 282 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: are closest to him during the year, whether it's the 283 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: coaches or whether it's those decision makers like that. 284 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, not familiar at all. He came up at the 285 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 2: end of last year for the ceremony at the end 286 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 2: where they recognized all the MVPs of each team, and 287 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: he was the MVP for Boloite last year, and I 288 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 2: got to meet Kim very briefly. We're up in the 289 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 2: suite watching the game afterwards, and that's basically the only 290 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 2: interaction I've had with her or anybody else in the 291 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 2: in the new Marlins organization that is obviously a lot 292 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: different than from what I was there. 293 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: Griff isn't alone. They've had some success stories on the 294 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: minor league side in the last few years. I think 295 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: what the frustration is for people like myself that follow 296 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: the major league team every day. Right now, for example, 297 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: they're in this stretch worth they're only scoring two to 298 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: three runs a game every single game. Is that they've 299 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: had trouble with translating players from upper miners to the majors. 300 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: Right even if they're performing down there, just making that 301 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: last leap and being consistently good at the majors has 302 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: been some of a challenge for them. So this is 303 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: where I want to kind of draw on your experience, 304 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: because you've got a couple cops to coffee with the 305 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: Royals back in ninety and I think in ninety two 306 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: before going to Miami in the expansion Draft, and then 307 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: as soon as the ninety three season open, you were 308 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: hot to hit her in baseball and it kind of 309 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: stuck around for the most part of the next like 310 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: fifteen years. You know, you never had to worry about 311 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: getting sent down. You establish yourself from there. I'm just 312 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: fascinated by what clicked, whether it was late in the 313 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: ninety two year or at some point in ninety three 314 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: spring training, because that change seemed to change everything for you. 315 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: And if the Royals knew, you know that they you 316 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 1: had this in yourself back then, they would have, you know, 317 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: protected you. You might not have ever been Marlin. I'm 318 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: fascinated by what it is that unlocked, that version of 319 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: yourself in ninety three. 320 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 2: Well, you know, they say it's tough to get to 321 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 2: the major leagues, but it's even tougher to stay. So 322 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: minor leagues is all about development, right. You go out 323 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 2: there and they've got their top prospects that they watch 324 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 2: and they follow, and that's basically why the minor leagues exists, 325 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 2: is to play games for the prospects to get them 326 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: actual live at bats or actual live batters to throw 327 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 2: to so they can get practice to get to the 328 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: major leagues. So winning is not that much of a priority. 329 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 2: Development is. It's all about development. They don't care if 330 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: you know you've got a low average at that point. 331 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: They're trying to develop you to become a major league 332 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: player and they want progress. Obviously, they want you to 333 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 2: develop and get better every single year. But you've got time. 334 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: But when you get to the big leagues, there is 335 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: no time. The time is up and it is time 336 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 2: to perform. You have to perform now because winning is 337 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: the only thing that's important in the major leagues. So 338 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 2: a lot of guys struggle with that. They struggle with 339 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 2: putting pressure on themselves when they get up to the 340 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 2: major leagues, they start thinking about everything else that's outside 341 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 2: the lines rather than what got them there. You know, 342 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 2: they come in, they see obviously the travel and the 343 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 2: big league clubhouse and the meal money and the fans 344 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 2: and the social media and ESPN highlights, and now it's 345 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 2: you're focused on like never before, and you're thinking, oh, geez, 346 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 2: if I make an error, I might be on ESPN, 347 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: or if I strike out, they're going to boom me. 348 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 2: Or so when guys start cluttering their thoughts with all 349 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 2: that outside stuff, that outside the lines, that's when they 350 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 2: don't really realize their potential. And you know, when I 351 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 2: went to Big League spring training with the Marlins, I 352 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: was comfortable. I was there from the very start. I 353 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: knew I had a good chance to make the team 354 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 2: and start in the outfield. So it's all about comfort, 355 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 2: you know. I was comfortable, and I was comfortable with 356 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 2: my teammates, and I was comfortable with my game, and 357 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: I had confidence going into that season. And I think 358 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: that's all the difference in the world. And you know, 359 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 2: in four to four of the first day doesn't do 360 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 2: too badly and building up your confidence for the start 361 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 2: of that year either. But you know, it's a learning 362 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 2: curve that in the major leagues it's steep and you've 363 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 2: got to learn quickly how to block out distractions and 364 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: focus on what's important. 365 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, hoping that other players with this team can feel 366 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: the same way, because we're in a stretch where the 367 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: team they finally called up all these different guys at 368 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: the same time and they're getting everyday reps, and yeah, 369 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: you would feel that if they had that right mindset, 370 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: that they'd be able to take advantage of this opportunity 371 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: while they have it. We're of course talking with Jeff 372 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: Conine here in the Fish Drives podcast, and there was 373 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: one more particular thing I wanted to get into, which 374 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: is about how you absolutely dominated against lefties, against lefty pitching. 375 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: I mean, that's something you feel like an end of 376 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: your career. Probably extended your career a little bit, but 377 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 1: even during at your very best, you were as good 378 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: as anybody in baseball at destroying lefties. And for the 379 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: Marlins right now at the major league level, that's been 380 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: a weakness as a team. They're hitting like two hundred 381 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: against lefties this entire year, which is very hard to do, 382 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: to struggle to at that extent, and It's been a lot 383 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: of different guys in that situation. 384 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 3: So we're gonna struck you out. That's a career high 385 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 3: ten strikeouts for Cole Irvin as he makes quick work 386 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 3: of Anderson got ein ninety four mile an hour fastball. 387 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 3: Eleven strikeouts at seven inches for the big left hand 388 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 3: or Cole Irban, He's been sensational. 389 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: I'm just fascinated by what do you think contributed to that? 390 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: How much of that is just your vision and being 391 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: able to natural gifts, being able to see the ball 392 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: well when you have the platoon advantage versus how much 393 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: of that is actually teachable? Like are there certain things 394 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 1: you worked on during your career that made you especially 395 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: dangerous against lefties because the numbers are pretty amazing that 396 00:20:59,080 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: you had in those matchup. 397 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know what, there was nothing that I specifically 398 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 2: targeted for lefties. I guess just the natural vision of 399 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 2: seeing the ball come from the other side coming towards 400 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 2: you instead of you know, the right hander is you 401 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: got to focus much further for me as a right 402 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 2: hander to the left and picking that ball up. So, yeah, 403 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 2: I knew I hit lefties well. I knew I was 404 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: confidentst against lefties, and you're right. At the end of 405 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 2: my career, I platooned a lot, so I only played 406 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 2: against lefties the last few years that I that I played, 407 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 2: and because I had so success the first few teen years, 408 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 2: how many I had up until that point, it definitely 409 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 2: elongated my career. So basketball driven to right field pretty well. 410 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 2: Hit two. 411 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: I still have Easter the Baby that's a three run 412 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: home run, and on two at batch Jeff co nine 413 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: has knocked in five runs. 414 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 2: As a right headed hitter. You know, I was always 415 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,679 Speaker 2: told you get you got to dominate lefties, and I 416 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 2: think even though I didn't specifically trained differently to face lefties, 417 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 2: I knew in my mind that that's hey, that's where 418 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 2: I'm going to excel. That's where I got to excel. 419 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: And with the exception of a few pictures, I enjoyed 420 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 2: facing lefties. 421 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: Who are the only guys that gave you trouble? 422 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 2: You think on the left, well, Andy Pettitt, I could 423 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 2: not hit Andy Pettitt for some reason, and another one 424 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 2: that Tom Glavin was another one that really I think 425 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 2: I might have the second worst batting average against any 426 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 2: picture that I ever faced against Tom Glavin, and that's 427 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: with you know, significant bats. I hit Mattox well, I 428 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 2: think I hit Smolts fairly well. But but Glavin, I 429 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 2: could not hit that guy. Just frustrated the hell out 430 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 2: of me and I didn't get myself out a lot. 431 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,479 Speaker 1: And this goes back to what you were doing just 432 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: this past year or so at FIU as an associate 433 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: coach over there, and from what I understand, you were 434 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: working pretty closely with their hitters as well to help 435 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: them understand a variety of things and get ready for 436 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: like this next step in their careers. So we had 437 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: some requests about people that were just interested in what 438 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: happened during that experience. What did you take out of it? 439 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: I remember listening how excited you were to be in 440 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: that situation and being an opportunity to help young players 441 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: like achieve the most out of themselves. 442 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was kind of a random occurrence. I talked 443 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 2: to the then athletic director Pete Garcia about something that 444 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 2: was unrelated to anything at FIU, and towards the end 445 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 2: of conversation he asked me about coaching and I'm like, ah, 446 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 2: I thought he meant about in professional baseball and told 447 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 2: him I didn't think I was really ready for that 448 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 2: right now, but he said no, no about college. I mean, 449 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 2: we're thirty minutes from your house. We're right down here. 450 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,880 Speaker 2: And it intrigued me because my whole life has been baseball. 451 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: I know nothing else to do in my life but baseball. 452 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 2: Here in my backyard, it's FIU, it's um, it's the Marlins. 453 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 2: That's that's I wouldn't I wouldn't move to another state 454 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 2: to coach college baseball. But this opportunity was given to 455 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 2: me right here in my backyard, and I decided to 456 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 2: go for it. And I was super excited to work 457 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 2: with the young players. I love teaching the game. I 458 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 2: loved working with guys, especially on their mental side of 459 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 2: the game and trying to teach them the right way 460 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 2: to play the game because right now, I think in 461 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 2: the big leagues and you've seen, or I've seen, kind 462 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 2: of a degradation of skills that we haven't seen. Base Running, 463 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 2: I think in the big leagues right now is horrendous, 464 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: and there's so much focus on power and hitting home 465 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 2: runs that a lot of the intricacies of winning a 466 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 2: baseball game have been lost. So I was very excited 467 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 2: to teach that to the guys at FIU, and I 468 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 2: really enjoyed my experience there. But unfortunately the coaches that 469 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 2: we have there, the coach, the head coach that we 470 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 2: had there, got to the end of his contract and 471 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 2: and they decided to make a change. And usually when 472 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 2: you make a change at any level in baseball, big leagues, 473 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 2: minor leagues, college, when the new coach comes in, he 474 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 2: likes to bring his own people in. So unfortunately I 475 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 2: was let go. And but you know, I really enjoyed 476 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 2: my experience there, and I love teaching, and you know, 477 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: that's what I'd like to do in the future. 478 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: Now, as your Twitter bios says, you're just a guy 479 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: looking for a job, right something else in baseball, whether 480 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: it's something specifically like that or anything related to it, right. 481 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's you know, I'm always looking, always throwing stuff 482 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 2: out there, the people that I know in baseball, just 483 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 2: to see what fits, what fits, and where do I 484 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 2: go from here. 485 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: This is from one of our followers. His name is 486 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: Sean Millerrick. He brought up the memory of the Conine 487 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: Clubhouse and grill. You remember that as a non baseball 488 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: business venture. He was telling me that it's the best 489 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: he says, he swears this is the best cheese steak 490 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: he's ever had outside of Philly when he went there, 491 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: and he was wondering about the history of the origin 492 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: of that, how that came together, what you learned from 493 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: trying to operate, what your involvement was with that restaurant. 494 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't on a restaurant tour. 495 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 2: I wasn't. I've heard nightmare stories about people that get 496 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 2: into the restaurant business and say it's one of the 497 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 2: most difficult business to get into. So I got approached 498 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 2: by a group that were actually kind of branding sports 499 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 2: type restaurants. They started Eddie George's in Tennessee. They came 500 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 2: to me and wanted to put up a restaurant here 501 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:39,120 Speaker 2: in South Florida and call it Jeff Conines Grill. And 502 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 2: I was all in because you know, I got free 503 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,679 Speaker 2: food and uh they had a h they called it 504 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: the Skybox, which is like a private room that we 505 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 2: had events at, and the food was excellent. Unfortunately, the 506 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 2: group they had a major undertaking in reef rehabbing the 507 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,479 Speaker 2: building that they were that they had taken over as 508 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 2: an old Bennegan's, and they put a lot more money 509 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 2: into it than they thought they were going to have 510 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 2: to get it off the ground. It was pretty successful 511 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 2: and did pretty well, but just not well enough for 512 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 2: them to continue. So they sold it to a guy 513 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 2: that didn't want my name on it anymore. So he 514 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 2: kicked me out and it became like a bar more 515 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: of like a bar type place, and it was out 516 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 2: of business within six months, and now it's a Mexican restaurant. 517 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 2: It's been since then. It's been there for a long time. 518 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: As a lot of people remember, up until about five 519 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: years ago, an advisor with this Marlins organization, and at 520 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: least from what we understand on the outside, you know 521 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 1: a lot of that. It was nothing personal on you. 522 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: It was just Derek Jeter coming in one of his 523 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: own guys involved with the organization. Fast forward to today, 524 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: Jeter is gone, and you did mention that to this 525 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: point you haven't gotten to know very well the new 526 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: people in charge of the organization. But we did have 527 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 1: a whole lot of fans bring this up out of 528 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: the blue that if for whatever reason, this organization, maybe 529 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 1: even if it was a different and organization as well, 530 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: if they approach you about like doing something similar to 531 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 1: what you had been doing with the front office back 532 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: in the day. Is that something that you'd be interested in. 533 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: Is that something you think is possible? You know, the 534 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: fact that they've it seems like very slowly things that 535 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: have smoothed over right, bring you back to the ballpark 536 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: to hang up the banners and in all that, is 537 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: that something that, if everything lines upright, you'd be interested 538 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: in doing and you think is a possibility in the future. 539 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know if it's a possibility, but 540 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,959 Speaker 2: of course i'd be interested. You know, this is my 541 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 2: my backyard team, this is my hometown. We've made our 542 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 2: home here now for twenty six years, and we've had 543 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 2: a golf tournament for the hospital that's going on. It's 544 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 2: twenty ninth year, and you know, South Florida's home, and 545 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: you know, you see all these little things behind me, 546 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 2: of all the teams that I've played for, but I 547 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 2: always can consider myself of Marlin. You know, we heard 548 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 2: from the very beginning, and I've got two World Series 549 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 2: rings with this organization and just a litime of phenomenal memories. 550 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 2: So even working for the team after I retired, you know, 551 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 2: there's a lot of great things that happened. So as 552 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 2: my Twitter handle says, I'm looking for a job and 553 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 2: I'd be open for conversation for sure. 554 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: That's great to hear. Whatever's next for you, Jeff, We 555 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: just hope you find fulfillment out there. You deserve it, 556 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: treat people right, and obviously your playing career speaks for itself. 557 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: What you did intangibly as a leader in the clubhouse, 558 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: people will know all about that as well, and we 559 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: appreciate you coming on the pot. This has been awesome. 560 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:34,719 Speaker 2: My pleasure, my pleasure. 561 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: You know. 562 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 2: I was my dad, like like I said, it was 563 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 2: an Olympic athlete, and you know, he always taught me 564 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 2: that if you're going to do something, you do it right, 565 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 2: you work hard, and it'd be a good person at 566 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 2: the same time. And that's why I wanted to be 567 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 2: in a clubhouse. I just want to work my butt 568 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 2: off and be a good teammate. 569 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: Awesome, this has been the official show. I'm Eli Susman. 570 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: This is Jeff Conan. Obviously, we just scratched the surface 571 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: on a few things that we could talk about with him, 572 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: and we hope to talk to him again in the future. 573 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: As going through what was one of the more special 574 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: Marlin's careers that there's ever been, and coming up on 575 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: the thirtieth anniversary of the franchise. I don't know if 576 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: there's anything coming down the pike about that. I saw 577 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: that there are some season ticket holders that received this 578 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: special shirt about the thirtieth anniversary. Are you aware of 579 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: any festivities that they're doing, particularly for that next year 580 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: that you could be involved with. 581 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 2: I have not been approached by anything or I have 582 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,959 Speaker 2: not heard anything yet, but I can't believe it's been 583 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 2: thirty years. Man. It is absolutely crazy that thirty years 584 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 2: ago we started this team and Charlie uff through that 585 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 2: first pitch that was a foot inside a ball and 586 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 2: it was called a strike and the Marlins were born. 587 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: It seems like yesterday. 588 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I'm very much looking forward to it. It 589 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: does seem like the team has stuff planning for that. 590 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: As I mentioned up top, it's easy to celebrate the 591 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: World Series winners as well, but there's been a lot 592 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: before in between after that that people have enjoyed with 593 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 1: yourself and otherwise. So that's something that I think a 594 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: lot of people in this fan base of push for 595 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: is just doing a better job at appreciating the legends 596 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 1: of this franchise, and you are relative to like everybody 597 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: has come through this organization, you're one of the legends, Jeff, 598 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 1: So once again, thanks for coming on. 599 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 2: Thank you. I appreciate it. I had a good time.