1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,119 Speaker 1: Zach Rosenthal is joining us right now in found Territory. 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: Zach was the former assistant general manager and VP of 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: the Colorado Rockies. He served in the organization for over 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: twenty years and joins us for the first time here. Zach, 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: great to have you on. How's everything going. 6 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: It's going great. Thanks for having me, Although I gotta 7 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 2: tell you, guys, making me follow a Hall of Famer 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: is not ideal. 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: You know, you got it, you got it, and we 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: picked like the man at the minute too, right. He 11 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: just learned about all of this a week ago at 12 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 1: the winter meeting, so he's coming in with a lot 13 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,319 Speaker 1: of fire and passionate emotion. But hey, Zach, I mean, 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: we haven't had you on here, so we have a 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 1: lot to get to with you too. 16 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 3: Always Fat is to. 17 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: Talk to front office members, and we do it frequently 18 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: on this show. Let's just start with your take on 19 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: the state of the Rockies and what you did there, right, 20 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: and what's going on there now as they are going 21 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: through a number of changes. Just want to give your take. 22 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: If I saw you randomly at a bar, hey, what's 23 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: up with the Rockies and how was it being there 24 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: for a while? What would you tell me, well, I. 25 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: Would say first of all that it was an awesome 26 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: twenty years, right, I mean from I mean I started 27 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 2: in two thousand and six as and in turn two 28 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 2: thousand and seven we went to the World Series. So 29 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 2: it you know, getting off to that kind of a 30 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 2: start was amazing. Got to work with so many incredibly 31 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: smart and good people, and you know, I think over time, 32 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: you know, you go through the ups and downs like 33 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 2: every organization does, and you know right now where they are, 34 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: they they've got some work to do. I mean, there's 35 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: no question about that. But there's a lot of really 36 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: I think strong foundational pieces in both the front office 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: and in the clubhouse that I think, you know, is 38 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: going to allow them to make those moves more quickly 39 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: than probably I think most people think. 40 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 4: Talk to me about strong foundational pieces, Well, what does 41 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 4: that look like for a baseball organization, because as a player, 42 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 4: I feel like they don't have strong foundational pieces. But 43 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 4: I want to hear from a front office standpoint. 44 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, I think it depends on 45 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: exactly how you want to define it, right, But the 46 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: biggest thing is, in my mind, having just a handful 47 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 2: of young players that that are core players you can 48 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 2: count on, players that are going to perform, players that 49 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: are gonna be the right type of representative for the organization, 50 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: and players you can build around. And so you know, 51 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: there's you're never gonna coming off a season like we 52 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: had last year. You're not gonna, you know, have a 53 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: full roster of players like that. But if you have some, 54 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: then you have things to work around. And you know, 55 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: guys like you know, Ezekiel Tovar and Breton Doyle and 56 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: even more of the veteran guys, you know, Kyle Freeland, 57 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: there's some pieces there that bring experience and are certainly 58 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 2: talented athletes and talented baseball players, and it's going to 59 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 2: be up to the organization to kind of, you know, 60 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: build around those guys and make sure that the full 61 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 2: twenty six you know, looks that way. 62 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 4: What about what about from an organization standpoint, from front office? 63 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 4: When you said a strong foundation, I thought you meant 64 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 4: from a front office standpoint, they had a strong foundation. 65 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 3: Because I'll get right to it. 66 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 4: I feel like when I watched the Rockies, I feel 67 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 4: like and when I hear guys that come from the 68 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 4: organization that were really good players, it seems like their 69 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 4: foundation is not there, seems like it's on a weak 70 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 4: foundation of we got really good players. 71 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 3: We had Troy Tulwiski, we had Dj. 72 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 4: Lemayhew, we had you know, going back even to like 73 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: a Brad hopp a, you know, Matt Holliday back in 74 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 4: those times, really awesome guys. Players that weren't being that 75 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 4: weren't being supplemented from their front office. And so when 76 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 4: you's a strong foundation, I'm more talking like from a 77 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 4: front office standpoint, what do they have in place that 78 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 4: can move forward? Or is it something that has to 79 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 4: be torn down from the bottom and built all the 80 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 4: way up so that they have that strong foundation that 81 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 4: you talked about. 82 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I got you. I don't I wouldn't say that 83 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: it needs to be torn down in its entirety. I mean, 84 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: there are there are a lot of really really good 85 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 2: baseball people that work for the Rockies. I mean really smart, creative, 86 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 2: open minded, and you know, I think, more than anything, 87 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 2: very passionate about the organization. I mean that I don't 88 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: think it's any secret that the Rockies are a pretty 89 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: loyal organization. The ownership is pretty loyal. You know, there's 90 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: people that have been there a long time, and so 91 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: you know, everybody, everybody wants the same thing among that group, 92 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: and that's to get back to where we've been. And 93 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: I think, you know, also I try to remind our staff. 94 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: When I was there, I would remind, especially our younger staff, 95 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: we've seen teams win in Denver. You know, we went 96 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 2: to the playoffs in or we went to the World 97 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 2: Series in two thousand and seven, as I mentioned, But 98 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 2: that little stretch was good. The two thousand and nine 99 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: team was good, the twenty ten team was good. There 100 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: was a little bit of a downturn there for a 101 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: few years after that, but again we got that core 102 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: put back together and in seventeen and eighteen we were 103 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: in the playoffs. And so, you know, I think it's 104 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: really important to remind the younger staff that are kind 105 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: of the new building blocks of that foundation that it's 106 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: it's doable because we've done it. 107 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 3: You know. 108 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 2: I do think that it's going to be up to 109 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 2: ownership to invest a little bit more in some of 110 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: the areas that you read about, you know, from a 111 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: technology standpoint, just the number of staff members, I think 112 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: the Rockies are still probably the smallest baseball op staff 113 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 2: in the game. So there's some more to do there, 114 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: but you know, they've hired some good people here in 115 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: the last couple of months, and I'm excited to see 116 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 2: what those guys can do with the pieces that have 117 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 2: been in place and that I know really well and 118 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 2: know that can I know they can contribute big time 119 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 2: to a championship organization. 120 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: Zach, what was it like at the end of your tenure? 121 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: From what I know, you had the ability to run 122 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: the front office for a very short period of time 123 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 1: while they were going through the transition, right, yeah, so yeah, okay, 124 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: so because it was right it was like an interim. 125 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: So what was it like there down the stretch when 126 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: you know they're going through the transition and then suddenly 127 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: you know, you're given that role to I don't know, 128 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: I mean how much decision making because it was a 129 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: short period of time. But what was that time period like? 130 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: And you know, is it something that you enjoyed and said, 131 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: oh okay, maybe I can be the GM of this 132 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: team or another team going forward. 133 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, So it was it was a really short period 134 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: of time and built stepped down shortly after the season ended. 135 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 2: I think just you know, the day after the second 136 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: day after and you know, I decided to leave a 137 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: week ten days after that, and and for me it 138 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: was it was just time for a change. I mean, 139 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: twenty twenty years in one place is a long long time, 140 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: and you know, I felt like there was an opportunity 141 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: for me to get out there and and see other 142 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: ways of doing things, to learn from some other people, 143 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: to learn some some other skills or some other just 144 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: ways of evaluating baseball players and putting together a front office. 145 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: I definitely, you know, enjoyed my role with the Rockies 146 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: really the whole way through. And and do I have 147 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 2: interest in being a GM someday, Yeah, I would love to. 148 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: I think that's that's the goal for most people and 149 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 2: who get into the front office. And you know, I 150 00:07:56,200 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: was extremely fortunate to, you know, have had the opportunity 151 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: you need to move up through the Rockies front office 152 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: the way I did, you know, working with with Jeff Bright. 153 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: It's when he was the GM, you know, one of 154 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 2: my best friends. Great, great years there of success on 155 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: the field and and just a heck of a lot 156 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: of fun in the in the front office as well. 157 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 3: So you know, I try to. 158 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: Look at every opportunity Scott as as a learning opportunity. 159 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: You know, you can learn from the wins, you can 160 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: learn from the losses. You you know you can if 161 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 2: you really take advantage of it. You can. You can 162 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 2: learn from from every experience, and so I tried to take, 163 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 2: you know, each day with the Rockies and put it 164 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 2: to good use for me in the future. 165 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 4: One of the best qualities as a person is loyalty. 166 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 4: Maybe one of the most hamstrung qualities of a baseball 167 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 4: organization can be loyalty. There's there's organizations. Do you feel 168 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 4: like that's brought up because people don't know because people 169 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 4: haven't been in I look at the White Sox. Jerry 170 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 4: Reinsdorff is super loyal and it's kind of put them 171 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 4: in a little bit of a tailspin. I look at 172 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 4: the Rockies both from outsiders type of point of view, 173 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 4: but it kind of has put the organization in an 174 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 4: area where it looks like from an outside like so 175 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 4: much loyalty, it's just the same guys getting recycled to 176 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 4: new positions, but just different titles. 177 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I can see that from the outside. 178 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: I don't I don't necessarily think that that's the case 179 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: on the inside, though, you know, the folks that that 180 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 2: I think ownership in Colorado have been most loyalty are 181 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: the ones that are really good, the ones that you 182 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 2: know that have had the opportunities to move up and 183 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: gain more responsibility or get experienced in different areas. You know, 184 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: it can it can be viewed from the outside as 185 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 2: a as a deterent for sure. I think, you know, 186 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: one of the things that if I could just if 187 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 2: I was the owner and could just do whatever, you know, 188 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 2: I think the loyalty piece is actually really important. I 189 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,359 Speaker 2: think it creates a lot of love for the organization. 190 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 2: It creates a lot of passion from the employees for 191 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 2: the organization. But I think what we needed to do 192 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: a better job of, and I think we're starting to 193 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 2: maybe see a little bit of that here over the 194 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: last few weeks in Colorado is bringing in, you know, 195 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 2: some people from the outside as well to supplement you know, 196 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: the folks that have been there a long time. Just 197 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 2: because you've been somewhere a long time and you know 198 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 2: the owner's loyal or you're loyal as an employee doesn't 199 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: necessarily mean you're not doing the job right. It just 200 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 2: you know, it's the combination of everything and and as 201 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 2: you guys know, it's it's all about who's at the top, right, 202 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 2: It's all about who is the GM, how involved is 203 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: the owner going to be, what's that vision look like? 204 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: And then you know, for everybody else, it's about executing 205 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: that vision and making sure that you know, what they 206 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 2: want to see on the field is what we put 207 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: on the field. 208 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 5: From a players standpoint, we always want the front office 209 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 5: to go for it. We always want you guys to 210 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 5: to have our backs, if so to speak and spend 211 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 5: unless it's our position, then we want you to Hey, 212 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 5: we're fine, don't touch us. Like that's how we always work. 213 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 5: But what's uh, what don't we understand? I guess because 214 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 5: there's always it's it's never that simple. It's obviously there's 215 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 5: tons of moving pieces around that you guys have to 216 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 5: deal with. So what is the biggest thing that players 217 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 5: don't understand about how front offices work? I guess what 218 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 5: would you say to all the players, like, what are 219 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 5: we missing where it's not it's just not that easy 220 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 5: or simple? 221 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,239 Speaker 3: Why? 222 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 2: Because it takes two to get a deal done always right, 223 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 2: so you know, whether it's a free agent signing or 224 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 2: a trade. I mean, I there have been so so 225 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 2: so many conversations that we have had about making deals 226 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 2: with teams or with agents that just never get to 227 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 2: that finish line for whatever reason. And it's never as 228 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: simple as, hey, you know, we need a we need 229 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: a catcher, so look we're going to go just get one. 230 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. 231 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: You know, when you're a kind of a middle market 232 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 2: team too, you know, you're you have to pay attention 233 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 2: to your expenses, to your payroll, and you're also trying 234 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: to balance that like, hey, let's go get let's go 235 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: help this team right now, but let's not mortgage the future, 236 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 2: because that's that's really the only way we're going to 237 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 2: be able to compete long term is making sure that 238 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: we have those pieces coming up. So it's a tricky balance. 239 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 2: I think. I think a good front office knows when 240 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 2: to roll the dice and knows when to really push 241 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 2: their chips in and then knows when to take a 242 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 2: step back. And and that's you know, that's probably the 243 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 2: biggest advice that I've given, like our younger staffers in 244 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 2: the offices they've come through, is just you have to 245 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 2: be nimble, you have to be agile, you have to 246 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: be willing to work differently depending upon whatever that situation is. 247 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 2: And then you have to be really honest with yourself. 248 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, one of the things that 249 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: we actually did really really well in Colorado, and then 250 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: I'm very proud of is our relationship with our players. 251 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 2: You know, I'm close with a lot of our guys. 252 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 2: I would talk to them at the trade deadline and 253 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: you know, let them know what we're thinking. I would 254 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: ask their opinions, they might ask my opinions, and try 255 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: to be really honest with them about, Hey, we had 256 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 2: some conversations. It's just it didn't It didn't work out 257 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 2: for whatever reason. 258 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 3: Can it be fixed? 259 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 4: Can the stigmas that go around Colorado playing there as 260 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 4: a player? 261 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 3: Can it be fixed? 262 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 4: You look back at like Kyle Freeland's twenty eighteen season 263 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 4: ridiculous as a free agent pitcher, like wait, he did it? 264 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 3: You look at you look. 265 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 4: But oh man, I always forget his name. The lefty 266 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: that pitched back in early two thousands with came from 267 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 4: Mexico City. 268 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 3: He had success. 269 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 4: So look at so can this yes, can can this 270 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 4: be fixed? Can you as an organization, can the Rockies 271 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 4: as an organization say we're all in on this type 272 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 4: of player? 273 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 3: For the outfield. 274 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 4: We're all in on this type of pitcher and make 275 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 4: it ours because I think too long I've heard coming 276 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 4: out of the Rockies organization, Oh, we don't recover so well, 277 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 4: it's tough to put together an entire season. To me, 278 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 4: it's like, excuse, excuse, excuse excuse, when this could be 279 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 4: eighty one games of the Rockies absolutely demolishing other teams 280 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 4: with a home field advantage. 281 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 3: So can that be fixed? 282 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's it's we've done 283 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: it before, right. I think anytime you can point to 284 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 2: the past and say, hey, it works, we had success, 285 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 2: you know, I think you can point to that and 286 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: know that we can we can do it again. I 287 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: personally think that the biggest look that course field and 288 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 2: playing baseball and altitude is the biggest puzzle in professional 289 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 2: sports in my opinion, it's the game is different. You 290 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 2: guys know, you guys played there the games. It feels different, 291 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 2: it acts different. And you know, you talk to any 292 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 2: players that come over to the Rockies from other organizations 293 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 2: and and they'll tell you that their body feels different 294 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 2: day to day, and and that's just that's science. It's 295 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 2: it's harder to recover here. And I think what is 296 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 2: incumbent upon the organization is to create as much depth 297 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: as humanly possible so that you can account for that. 298 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 2: Whether it's optioning guys down for you know, to give 299 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 2: them a break, you've got to have somebody who can 300 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: bring up who can still compete. 301 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 3: Right. 302 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: It's about having you know, maybe six or seven starters 303 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: that you trust so you can skip a guy every 304 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 2: once in a while, you know, even the position players, 305 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 2: making sure that you know you're not just giving a 306 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: game away when when no One or and auto is 307 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: in the lineup, right, So it's about depth, and it's 308 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 2: about creating as much of that as possible. I think 309 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 2: where the Rockies have struggled though in the past is 310 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 2: kind of a lack of a willingness to make trades 311 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 2: with those veteran guys, to create enough depth behind them 312 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: to ensure that you've got the player for sure, he'll 313 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 2: he'll freeze there. 314 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: Think we're back, but we had it was just it 315 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: was just the tail end. But we're good. We're good. 316 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: I'm glad we didn't lose you completely because I do 317 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: want to finish this conversation Zach with an important question 318 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: that has been asked, Uh, oh, Kratz. My mine's a 319 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: funny one. So if you want to get a serious one, 320 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: and I saw you just texted me, then then you 321 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: can go before I do, because mine's kind of fun. 322 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 3: One serious question, okay, Chris Bryant. 323 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, can you give us your synopsis of not only 324 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 4: what you were getting when it came when he came in, 325 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 4: but how it's gone and what those you talked about, 326 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 4: like you talk to a lot of the players. What's 327 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 4: that conversation like with him when when you have that 328 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 4: conversation knowing what he was expected to be when he 329 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 4: came into this organization and signed the contract that he did. 330 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, so when we signed Chris, it was 331 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: you have to remember, you've got to go back a 332 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 2: few years. You have to put put behind you what 333 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 2: has already happened here in Colorado because we didn't know 334 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 2: how it was going to go. And at the time, 335 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 2: you know, he was still a younger player, or at 336 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 2: least not an older player. He was right there in 337 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 2: the middle of his career, and he was a guy 338 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 2: that you know, had been an All Star of the 339 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 2: year prior we got to know him a little bit. 340 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: Some of our staff because we ended up posting that 341 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: All Star Game in twenty twenty one when they moved 342 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: it from Atlanta, and he was part of that. You know, 343 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 2: he had played well for the Giants the second half 344 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 2: of that season when they had traded for him, and 345 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 2: you know, we also organizationally had gone through Nolan just 346 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 2: having left, and so it was really important to our 347 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: ownership to make us flash and to show our fans 348 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 2: that they were willing to spend money and to to 349 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 2: try and compete and put, you know, the right team 350 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: on the field. I can tell you, guys, Chris Bryant 351 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 2: is one of the nicest human beings I've ever met 352 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 2: in my life. He cares a great deal. He feels 353 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: extremely responsible for you know the fact that he hasn't 354 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 2: been on the field much for the Rockies in this 355 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 2: first part of his tenure. And and I know it's it. 356 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: It bothers him. I've seen it, I've heard it from him. 357 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 2: It I think, I don't want to say embarrassed, because 358 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: they're they're real injuries. It's not been performance related. But 359 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: I do think, you know, he knows the impact that 360 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 2: he has on that payroll, and you know, he wanted 361 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: to be a part of this and he wanted to 362 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 2: help the team win. And you know, he hasn't played 363 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 2: a lot for the Rockies, but when he's been in 364 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 2: the lineup, it changes everything. Even though he's not like, 365 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 2: you know, the Chris Bryan of of of old, the 366 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 2: professionalism of his bats, you know, you kind of see 367 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 2: that trickle down through the lineup, you know, and the 368 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 2: younger guys get to see it, and you know, I 369 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 2: just I think a great deal of Chris as a 370 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 2: human being. I think the one thing that that I 371 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 2: had somebody say to me once is that Chris Brand's 372 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: biggest problem is probably that he's the guy you want 373 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 2: your daughter to bring home to meet the parents, and 374 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 2: you don't usually want that to be your best player. 375 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 3: That's true, But. 376 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: I got what you're saying though. Yeah, it's there's a 377 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: certain mindset, mentality, all of that, you know that just 378 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: makes him a super wonderful guy to be around. But 379 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: that's also a difference in you know, how you want 380 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: your general to be in war or something like that, right, 381 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: for lack of a better term, yep, yeah, but it. 382 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 2: Can be true, right, yeah, yeah, yeah. 383 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: Right, And you can have different blends of people on organizations. 384 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 1: But if you know it's a rocky team that's young 385 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: and need someone like that, it's just different. Yep, right, okay, 386 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: so let's finish with this. You've got guitars behind you? 387 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 1: I mean, is that you? Is that somebody else in 388 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: the household? People are asking NonStop because I do think 389 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: that gms are often or front office members are often 390 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: looked at as quarters of squares. I'm just being super 391 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: straightforward about it. So there you go. But hey, I 392 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: know it's a GM fact that are a great time, right, 393 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: whether it's a great guy to get a drink with 394 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: or somebody who really is musically talented, et cetera. So 395 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: I just wanted to know, is that you? If not, 396 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: what do you do for fun? 397 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: No? 398 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 3: That is me. 399 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 2: I'm not good though, Just for the record, it's not good. 400 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 2: So what But I grew up playing piano. I played 401 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 2: the saxophone in college and was in an all state 402 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 2: jazz band in California that we got to tour Europe 403 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 2: a couple of times in high school. And music has 404 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 2: always It's been music in baseball my whole life. And 405 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: the guitar thing is a relatively new experiment. 406 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 3: I really enjoy it. 407 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: It's fun. It's a really nice way to get your 408 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,479 Speaker 2: brain off of the baseball stuff when you need to 409 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 2: do that. And so it's like I said, I'm not good, 410 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 2: but I really like it. You don't have to be 411 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 2: good that on his wall behind him. 412 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 3: I wasn't good. 413 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 4: I wasn't good with those either. They're exactly right, Jip. No, 414 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 4: music is aura, bro. If you can, if you can 415 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 4: play a guitar, just the fact that you put it 416 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 4: on your lap and you play guitar like you've already upped. 417 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 4: Because if you come in with a quarter zip to 418 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 4: a party and you say you're a GM of a team, 419 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 4: people are gonna be like and then you pull the 420 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 4: guitar off the shelf, they probably won't even hear you 421 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 4: play it, but they'll be like, okay, like I kind 422 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 4: of want to see this guy a little bit more so. 423 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 4: The music is aura. We can't all have black diamonds 424 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 4: like Kip Okay. 425 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 2: No, I could not pull that off, no doubt, it's fake. 426 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter, but it's just. 427 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 1: It's a flex alone to be doing this conversation. There's 428 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 1: guitars behind you, and you know, you know what you're 429 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: doing there, right. You may not be coming up with 430 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 1: the next great hit, but if you can play a 431 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: few things, maybe next time you come back on, we 432 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: can show the world that gms are humans too. They're 433 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: not just hanging out in the front office all day 434 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: and on their computer. They do get a little bit 435 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: of time off, not a lot, I know, the job's crazy, 436 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,719 Speaker 1: but a little bit of time off to do what 437 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: they want. So, Zach Greig, getting to know you, Thanks 438 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: for joining us. Yeah, what do you got final work? 439 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: Oh? 440 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 2: I was just going to say, I think that's That's 441 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 2: one of the most important things too, is whether it's 442 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 2: the players, the front office. Having having an outlet that's 443 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 2: not baseball is actually I think crucial to your success 444 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 2: in baseball. And it's you know, something I encourage everybody to, 445 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: you know, in our office to I mean, take some time, 446 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 2: have a hobby, spend time with your family, do something 447 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 2: that gets a brain off of the baseball stuff, because otherwise, 448 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 2: I mean, you can think about it twenty four to 449 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 2: seven if you want to, and you got to force 450 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: it a little bit sometimes, I think. 451 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 4: So I appreciate you guys having me on though you're 452 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 4: the second best Rosenthal, but the first one we have 453 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 4: on today. So we have to we have to always 454 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 4: make sure because if Ken, if we would tell, if 455 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 4: we would say you're the best Rosenthal, then Ken would 456 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 4: be Ken would be super jealous and we'd have to 457 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 4: deal with that. I don't want that, So we appreciate 458 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 4: you coming on happy holidays. 459 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and for. 460 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 2: The record, we're not related me and Ken, we're not related. 461 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: We're only related because we're in baseball. 462 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 3: That's it. Okay, that's fair, that's fair. Yeah. 463 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 4: And he would eat and he would eat all the 464 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 4: turkey at Christmas dinner, so you don't you don't want 465 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:44,479 Speaker 4: to be related to him. 466 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 3: Perfect good to know. Appreciate that.