WEBVTT - Zach Plesac / Michael Jacobs 0:00:03.360 --> 0:00:05.760 Welcome to the No Sports Report, a production of I 0:00:05.880 --> 0:00:09.400 Heart Radio Entree Fort Media. Small note this episode was 0:00:09.440 --> 0:00:11.520 recorded prior to the murder of George Floyd and the 0:00:11.560 --> 0:00:14.400 resulting global reaction in protests, which is the only reason 0:00:14.400 --> 0:00:16.800 it's not mentioned. Something to keep in mind while listening. 0:00:22.360 --> 0:00:24.520 My name is Jensen carp and I'm a sports fan, 0:00:24.920 --> 0:00:27.240 and just like you, I'm sad about the breaking news. 0:00:27.680 --> 0:00:30.200 Oh not the pandemic. I've been sad about that for months. 0:00:30.400 --> 0:00:33.239 I'm talking about no Taiwanese baseball teams offering a contract 0:00:33.240 --> 0:00:35.800 to forty seven year old Manny Ramirez after he announced 0:00:35.800 --> 0:00:38.199 he likes to play there in I know it's just 0:00:38.240 --> 0:00:41.000 Manny being Manny, but we already live in a fantasy world. 0:00:41.360 --> 0:00:44.800 Eighty two game baseball season, Basketball at Disney World, Brady 0:00:44.800 --> 0:00:47.959 to Tampa Bay, a primetime specialist, celebrities cutting their own hair. 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:50.279 There's already a glitch in the matrix. Let's just go 0:00:50.400 --> 0:00:54.520 full acid trip. Let Manny play, Let, Manny play Let, 0:00:54.600 --> 0:00:58.280 Manny play. I'm gonna assume you're chanting with me, but 0:00:58.360 --> 0:01:00.640 even if you're not, I'm talking to fleets and sports 0:01:00.680 --> 0:01:04.080 industry professionals about what they're doing in quarantine, hoping to 0:01:04.080 --> 0:01:06.160 figure out if the fame is competing as much as 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:08.679 I miss watching it. This is the No Sports report 0:01:12.840 --> 0:01:15.560 to become a professional athlete. The amount of dedicated work 0:01:15.600 --> 0:01:18.840 and focus training required is something most people could never do. 0:01:19.400 --> 0:01:21.600 I say this while eating a large bag of nacho cheese. 0:01:21.640 --> 0:01:24.640 Dorito's years of work go into achieving a dream that, 0:01:24.720 --> 0:01:27.880 in less than one percent of cases actually does happen. 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:30.560 And if you're one of the chosen few live it up, 0:01:30.600 --> 0:01:33.319 the work is paid off. But what if you can't 0:01:33.360 --> 0:01:35.319 live it up because right now it can't pay off? 0:01:35.840 --> 0:01:38.000 What if you're stuck in a global pandemic, unable to 0:01:38.040 --> 0:01:40.880 participate in your first opening day, moving city to city 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:43.600 and quarantine because you're a rookie pitcher who rightfully hasn't 0:01:43.600 --> 0:01:45.480 bought a house yet. And even though you had one 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:48.400 of the most impressive starting pitture debuts in Cleveland, Indians history, 0:01:48.640 --> 0:01:50.920 taking them out at a rainy Fenway Park against David 0:01:50.920 --> 0:01:53.200 Price in two thousand nineteen, well that has nothing to 0:01:53.240 --> 0:01:55.360 do with coronavirus. And your story is still delayed in 0:01:55.400 --> 0:01:58.160 finding its fairy tale end. And sure, some people might 0:01:58.160 --> 0:01:59.960 think you have the best pickoff move in the majors, 0:02:00.240 --> 0:02:02.200 and you added an off speed pitt during the spring, 0:02:02.240 --> 0:02:04.640 and you're a dark horse favorite for a starting rotation spot. 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:07.000 But what's it all worth if you can't actually celebrate 0:02:07.000 --> 0:02:10.760 the winds? These are all questions for today's guest, Zach Pleisach. 0:02:11.320 --> 0:02:14.120 We talked about being a pandemic nomad, his surreal first 0:02:14.120 --> 0:02:17.000 major League appearance, and the stuff your grandma collects. And 0:02:17.160 --> 0:02:19.640 I chat with Michael Jacobs, the director of Quimby's new 0:02:19.680 --> 0:02:22.040 series about Donald Sterling in the two thousand fourteen Los 0:02:22.040 --> 0:02:25.400 Angeles Clippers black Ball. All of this on the new 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:38.000 episode of The No Sports Report. How from exactly that 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:44.480 to accept press one? Hello Zach, Hey, buddy, I've noticed 0:02:44.560 --> 0:02:47.280 you've been moving around a little bit during quarantine. You're 0:02:47.320 --> 0:02:49.400 staying safe, obviously, but I want to know where you're 0:02:49.440 --> 0:02:53.360 currently hunkered down. I'm right now currently in northwest Indiana. 0:02:53.639 --> 0:02:56.440 I started off obviously in Florida, was in Cincinnati, and 0:02:56.520 --> 0:02:58.400 my family staring north this Indiana. So I had a 0:02:58.400 --> 0:03:00.680 send some time with them before I really head out here, 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:02.519 you know, to get ready for the season that's gonna 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:05.000 be coming up Staine hopefully. Yeah, So before that, who 0:03:05.000 --> 0:03:07.880 are you with my agent? See now that's the thing 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:10.840 I had heard you were living with your agent, and 0:03:10.880 --> 0:03:13.640 I realized I need a new agent mine. I would 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:15.839 never let me live with her, let alone. She sent 0:03:15.919 --> 0:03:18.200 me just an edible arrangement for Christmas. I mean, I'm 0:03:18.200 --> 0:03:21.920 gonna I'm in the wrong situation. Man. That's maybe she 0:03:21.919 --> 0:03:24.120 doesn't have the extra room fit. Maybe I don't know. 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:27.000 I feel I feel jipped. Uh. You've been able to 0:03:27.040 --> 0:03:29.880 also see your teammate and your friend Mike Clevinger, which 0:03:29.960 --> 0:03:31.560 is more than most players have been able to do. 0:03:31.680 --> 0:03:34.560 So how have you been able to stay active and 0:03:34.600 --> 0:03:37.920 fit and healthy getting ready for this new season? Yeah, 0:03:38.040 --> 0:03:40.360 I mean at first it was we were down in 0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:42.600 Florida together, so it was nice outside. It was, you know, 0:03:42.680 --> 0:03:45.120 nice enough to be out and about. Obviously can't go 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:47.640 in any public places, but we you know, had the 0:03:47.680 --> 0:03:51.200 outside ability to play catch in the street and you know, 0:03:51.240 --> 0:03:53.600 around some sprints or do some band work in the driveway. 0:03:53.720 --> 0:03:56.480 So I mean, at first, it was super limited to 0:03:56.920 --> 0:03:59.640 activity that was basically just like in her house and home. 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:02.120 Idem Um. I had some weighted balls and some bands 0:04:02.160 --> 0:04:04.160 that I had, you know, just from spring training and 0:04:04.200 --> 0:04:06.760 things that I took with me to continue to train, 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:08.760 and we were just using those things and really just 0:04:08.800 --> 0:04:12.000 playing catch, but weight listening kind of slowed down, which 0:04:12.000 --> 0:04:13.760 it normally would at that point of the year anyway, 0:04:13.800 --> 0:04:17.560 because we've been getting into the season. Um. But you know, 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:20.599 like there still has to be a point of keeping 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:22.400 that strength and making sure that you know, as we're 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:24.840 moving forward, we're not regressing and work at least we 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:28.440 get a positive direction sure, and and beyond working out, 0:04:29.080 --> 0:04:33.000 staying fit getting ready for baseball. While you're traveling doing 0:04:33.040 --> 0:04:35.440 these things, have you been able to watch TV shows 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:37.960 or do any of the things these normal humans like 0:04:38.080 --> 0:04:40.920 me are doing. Yeah, I mean I've definitely been spending 0:04:41.000 --> 0:04:43.279 more time like with my family, and I've been watching 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:47.119 a lot more TV um on my computer at least. Uh, 0:04:47.160 --> 0:04:49.119 you know, I've really been I've kind of been bounced around. 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:50.880 It's like as soon as I kind of like get 0:04:51.160 --> 0:04:53.359 like settled in somewhere, like about time for me to 0:04:53.400 --> 0:04:55.280 make a different move, you know. So I'm just kind 0:04:55.279 --> 0:04:56.680 of staying a lot of my COEs. I don't have 0:04:56.680 --> 0:04:59.000 a house yet for myself, so that's really the next 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:01.840 step for me, somewhere where I can actually punker down 0:05:01.839 --> 0:05:04.279 and get all my stuff, you know, packed in and 0:05:04.320 --> 0:05:06.719 have like a home base. But you know, at first 0:05:06.760 --> 0:05:08.480 is you know, I was with my friend and I'm 0:05:08.480 --> 0:05:10.440 with my agent and with my family, and you know, 0:05:10.480 --> 0:05:12.360 so I was trying to figure out what's gonna work 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:15.000 best for everybody, you know. So, yeah, you are different 0:05:15.000 --> 0:05:17.239 than most people I've spoken to for the podcast because 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:20.440 you've actually been having to move to different places. What 0:05:20.480 --> 0:05:22.920 has it been like traveling during this time. Yeah, I 0:05:22.960 --> 0:05:24.920 mean it's when I'm traveling, I'm just in the car. 0:05:25.040 --> 0:05:28.240 You know, It's I'm not like staying overnight anywhere, like 0:05:28.360 --> 0:05:30.440 you know, really coming in contact with anyone until I'm 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:32.200 getting gas out of my car. You know. It's really 0:05:32.200 --> 0:05:34.599 the only time so um, when I'm When I was 0:05:34.600 --> 0:05:36.720 in Cincinnati traveling there, you know, my agent had a 0:05:36.720 --> 0:05:38.839 great set up with a gym and uh, you know, 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:41.040 trainer and play this stuff to get my work in. 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:44.440 And yeah, I mean there's just like a blessing from 0:05:44.440 --> 0:05:46.680 to be able to have that and make the most 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:48.159 of it there. And I have you know, the prisoners 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:49.719 to have a gym here at home, and me and 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:52.320 my training together down in Florida's as good as it 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:54.159 gets to because you know, we're pushing each other and 0:05:54.200 --> 0:05:56.560 we're you know, become a scientists on our body, I guess, 0:05:56.560 --> 0:05:58.720 so to speak, based on you know, mechanics and try 0:05:58.839 --> 0:06:01.120 to just reach our full potential and get the most 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:03.000 out of ourselves. Yeah. I mean, I know it's kind 0:06:03.000 --> 0:06:05.320 of a cheap comparison, but I guess people that I 0:06:05.360 --> 0:06:07.880 know who have had to drive kind of far places 0:06:07.960 --> 0:06:10.039 say it does have a bit of like a walking 0:06:10.080 --> 0:06:13.000 dead vibe. Is like, no traffic on any freeways, the 0:06:13.040 --> 0:06:15.800 streets seemed pretty quiet. I mean, I guess I was wondering, 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:19.080 was it much quicker for you than normal? Oh? Yeah, yeah, 0:06:19.160 --> 0:06:21.760 actually that yeah, now that you say that, driving up 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:24.919 from I'm you know, staying from the Panhandle of Florida 0:06:25.000 --> 0:06:27.200 to Cincinnati. You drive to Louisville, and I remember just 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:29.240 going through that city at Louisville and it was an 0:06:29.279 --> 0:06:32.400 absolute ghost town of like the city of downtown. So 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:35.479 that's not like dang, No one is really outside right now. 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:38.760 Even on the roads, they're pretty open. I could say. Now, 0:06:38.800 --> 0:06:42.720 I feel like they're getting more um, I guess rush. Yeah, 0:06:43.040 --> 0:06:45.479 it seems people are starting to go outside at least 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:48.080 a little bit. Now, I know, you have a brother 0:06:48.279 --> 0:06:50.679 that you're staying with that was a high school senior, 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:52.800 younger brother, so did a bump him out to have 0:06:52.880 --> 0:06:55.320 his graduation cut short and not have a prom and 0:06:55.440 --> 0:06:57.560 and all the things you and I now barely remember, 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:00.320 probably but meant a lot to us at the time. Yeah, 0:07:00.400 --> 0:07:02.880 he was definitely bummed at first. You know, this season 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:05.320 taken away from him his senior year high school, of 0:07:05.360 --> 0:07:07.520 his friends. I mean, that's probably one of the most 0:07:07.560 --> 0:07:10.000 memorable kinds of your life, you know, So for him 0:07:10.040 --> 0:07:12.080 it was it was hard at first, but you know, 0:07:12.280 --> 0:07:14.280 you know, we just kind of gotta keep our heads straight, 0:07:14.320 --> 0:07:15.720 you know, just you know, he knew that he's got 0:07:15.720 --> 0:07:17.480 to look forward to what's next in his life. He's 0:07:17.520 --> 0:07:19.200 got to take care of some things and looking to 0:07:19.200 --> 0:07:20.880 go to place somewhere, and you know what he has 0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:22.400 to do in order to do that, and just kind 0:07:22.400 --> 0:07:24.360 of with everything, you know, he's got to reorganize and 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:26.680 a justice like everyone has to do eventually, you know, 0:07:26.760 --> 0:07:28.560 just adjust of what kind of gets done your way. 0:07:28.600 --> 0:07:30.320 So this is just something he realized he has been 0:07:30.320 --> 0:07:33.400 battling with. It's unfortunate, but yeah, he's he's good now. 0:07:33.440 --> 0:07:35.240 He was. He was definitely bummed before and he was 0:07:35.280 --> 0:07:37.480 playing sports. Is that what I'm under the impression his 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:40.120 season was cut out? Yeah, he was a senior. He 0:07:40.200 --> 0:07:42.560 was I mean a picture. I'm sorry, he was a 0:07:42.560 --> 0:07:44.560 picture in the baseball team and they were about to 0:07:44.560 --> 0:07:47.360 start their season, I think top five. They were ranked 0:07:47.360 --> 0:07:49.320 in the state and had a lot of buzz going 0:07:49.360 --> 0:07:50.920 their way, had other good arms on their team and 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:53.640 some other good players. So um, there was definitely some 0:07:53.680 --> 0:07:56.240 buzz before the season for their squad going into this 0:07:56.240 --> 0:08:00.680 this year. So yeah, I didn't even think of that really. 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:02.920 I guess I just weirdly focused on prom but it 0:08:03.040 --> 0:08:04.400 is true. I mean he didn't even really get to 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:05.960 see you know, the scouts didn't really get to come 0:08:05.960 --> 0:08:08.320 out all those things too. Yeah, I know, right, So 0:08:08.480 --> 0:08:10.520 now I think even I don't even think Scots are 0:08:10.560 --> 0:08:12.920 allowed to come watch guys during the squortancing time anyway. 0:08:12.960 --> 0:08:15.800 So it's like, yeah, crazy for those guys who are 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:18.280 looking to go go play or get recruited or even 0:08:18.400 --> 0:08:20.360 you know, have a chance to get drafted, because it's 0:08:20.440 --> 0:08:21.800 kind of difficult. It's like you got to do it 0:08:21.840 --> 0:08:26.200 all over our phones now videos. Yeah, how hectic was 0:08:26.240 --> 0:08:29.600 it for you. You don't have your own place yet, 0:08:29.640 --> 0:08:31.760 you're looking into doing that. Obviously you're kind of new 0:08:31.800 --> 0:08:33.960 to the league. How hectic was it for you one 0:08:34.000 --> 0:08:36.400 day to be completely president focused on spring training and 0:08:36.440 --> 0:08:39.000 then the next trying to figure out where you're gonna stay. Yeah, 0:08:39.000 --> 0:08:41.200 it's kind of like that's how it's been the past 0:08:41.200 --> 0:08:42.880 couple of years, Like trying to figure out where you're 0:08:42.880 --> 0:08:44.800 gonna stay, where you're gonna be. Everything, he's kind of 0:08:44.840 --> 0:08:47.320 up in the air. It's kinda gotta just whatever. You know, 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:50.400 it's kind of blown your way. But um, you know, 0:08:50.440 --> 0:08:52.120 I didn't even have a place set up yet for 0:08:52.120 --> 0:08:54.200 the season. During spring training, I was kind of waiting 0:08:54.200 --> 0:08:57.040 to see where everything is playing out and you know, 0:08:57.160 --> 0:08:58.960 just moving along. I just had to see what's been 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:00.600 going to be a good situation for me to get 0:09:00.600 --> 0:09:02.680 my training in and keep my mental good, you know, 0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:04.600 everything just being a good spot. So because I wasn't 0:09:04.600 --> 0:09:07.360 even looking forward, I have to it's my responsibility as 0:09:07.400 --> 0:09:10.040 starting pitcher for the Fluting Indians to prepare and keep 0:09:10.080 --> 0:09:12.320 myself ready for when we do have to go play. 0:09:12.360 --> 0:09:14.000 You know, it's not like we were I wasn't off 0:09:14.080 --> 0:09:17.199 during this time so I was moving around from with 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:20.520 my teammate to my agent to my family. I was 0:09:20.559 --> 0:09:22.800 in Cleveland for a little bit and then I'm back home. 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:24.920 Um yeah, and I'm just, you know, do what I 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:28.240 gotta do to make the best of what we got. Uh. 0:09:28.360 --> 0:09:31.000 I guess too, Like I don't mean to to pour 0:09:31.120 --> 0:09:33.319 salt in the wound here, but you know it was 0:09:33.320 --> 0:09:36.920 gonna be your first pro opening day. Uh. Did you 0:09:36.960 --> 0:09:39.600 have sort of that whole process planned out in your 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:41.520 head to walk out the call of your name, the 0:09:41.559 --> 0:09:43.240 whole thing. I mean, how big of a bummer is 0:09:43.240 --> 0:09:45.280 it to not have that? Yeah, for sure, I had. 0:09:45.400 --> 0:09:47.559 I had all that stuff ready. Uh it was. It 0:09:47.679 --> 0:09:50.120 was a bummer. I mean I wasn't sore set to 0:09:50.120 --> 0:09:52.240 make the team, you know. So it was definitely competition 0:09:52.320 --> 0:09:55.040 to the end. But looking looking forward to opening day, man, 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:57.360 that's something you know, I dream about, um and hopefully 0:09:57.400 --> 0:09:59.520 you know, in the future sometime I'm able to experience it. 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:01.480 But for now, you know, my opening days whenever we 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:03.480 get our first game this year? Yeah, well, you you 0:10:03.559 --> 0:10:05.959 had a great strong eight and six under four e 0:10:06.120 --> 0:10:07.439 r a season. I know you said it was a 0:10:07.440 --> 0:10:09.600 battle to make roster, but you were obviously a favor 0:10:09.679 --> 0:10:13.000 to do. So, uh, you found your groove right away 0:10:13.080 --> 0:10:15.280 kind of coming in and and that's not easy to 0:10:15.320 --> 0:10:18.200 do obviously. Does this kind of does the pouse and play? 0:10:18.240 --> 0:10:20.920 Does it mess with your flow at all? No, honestly, Like, 0:10:21.040 --> 0:10:23.680 I don't think it has it all. Uh. I really think, 0:10:23.760 --> 0:10:26.080 you know, I've done as much as I could. I 0:10:26.080 --> 0:10:29.480 mean in the grand scheme of a season and in 0:10:29.559 --> 0:10:31.959 terms of reading guys swings and doing all that and 0:10:32.040 --> 0:10:34.360 understanding the league and what's going on, like that's part 0:10:34.400 --> 0:10:36.880 of it. Definitely we're gonna have to, you know, adjust 0:10:36.880 --> 0:10:38.720 as you play when we get going again. But you know, 0:10:38.760 --> 0:10:40.960 I feel like I've done everything and been blessed with 0:10:41.000 --> 0:10:43.240 the resources around me to be able to continue to 0:10:43.280 --> 0:10:45.000 train and just stay on top of my craft. You know, 0:10:45.040 --> 0:10:46.680 it's just more than work to me. It's something that 0:10:46.720 --> 0:10:48.880 you know, I've carried with me every day. So um, 0:10:48.920 --> 0:10:50.960 I wake up and get ready to work. So I think, 0:10:50.960 --> 0:10:53.120 you know, in the end, it's it's a bummer our 0:10:53.160 --> 0:10:54.640 games got pushed back, but you know, I think I'm 0:10:54.679 --> 0:10:59.240 really ready to play right now. So your major League 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:04.080 debut was at the Storied, and I guess intimidating Fenway Park. 0:11:04.320 --> 0:11:06.880 Mookie Betts was the first batter you faced. You had 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:09.480 a like a four hour rain delay. You still went 0:11:09.480 --> 0:11:11.560 five and a third innings. You gave up only one run. 0:11:11.720 --> 0:11:15.360 If any picture conservative survived this pandemic, it is clearly you. 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:18.120 Is there a way you could go through? How difficult 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:21.120 that day was for you? Yeah, that day was one 0:11:21.160 --> 0:11:23.520 I'll never forget. Just steven from the night before. But 0:11:23.679 --> 0:11:25.840 my agent has set up a fake dinner at Morn's 0:11:26.120 --> 0:11:28.920 and they catered us really nice. They must my agent 0:11:28.960 --> 0:11:30.480 must told him that I was pitching the next day 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:32.720 and they were just pitching me good luck and being 0:11:32.760 --> 0:11:35.600 really cool. Had a great dinner, welcome to the next morning, 0:11:35.760 --> 0:11:37.600 and wanted just to get my mind off the game 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:39.240 as much as I could and just enjoy the day 0:11:39.240 --> 0:11:42.040 and the experience of my my family. But I couldn't 0:11:42.040 --> 0:11:43.480 really hang out with my mom a whole bunch because 0:11:43.480 --> 0:11:45.680 she was stressed me out, probably just being stressed out herself. 0:11:46.360 --> 0:11:47.959 So I hang out with my brother and my agent. 0:11:48.000 --> 0:11:50.640 We got some pasta for lunch, and then my agent 0:11:51.200 --> 0:11:53.599 actually got me these white pair of lebrons that it 0:11:53.720 --> 0:11:56.680 just came out at fourteen lows and Tom at the shoe. 0:11:56.720 --> 0:11:58.679 So we were walking up and down Boston and it 0:11:58.679 --> 0:12:00.319 was kind of raining out, so was it being a day, 0:12:00.360 --> 0:12:02.000 you know, So we're just trying to find stuff to 0:12:02.080 --> 0:12:04.400 do and like make it right. But he gives me 0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:06.319 these shoes. He's all white, you know. I take them 0:12:06.320 --> 0:12:08.400 into the into my warm up and I'm running on 0:12:08.440 --> 0:12:10.679 the warning track. I got them all muddy, and I'm like, 0:12:10.760 --> 0:12:12.360 you know, this is when I can trash these shoes 0:12:12.400 --> 0:12:14.319 I just got Today. We're in the babies like we can. 0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:15.720 That's like, what are you supposed to do? You know, 0:12:15.800 --> 0:12:18.439 getting near this tomorrow? I didn't really know. It's so lost, 0:12:18.600 --> 0:12:21.000 just like being so president, you know. So ends up 0:12:21.000 --> 0:12:22.880 getting a gift from my agent. Took him in and 0:12:22.920 --> 0:12:25.760 got loose. Uh. Yeah, it came all the way to 0:12:25.840 --> 0:12:27.920 the game time. You know, it's probably missing out and 0:12:27.960 --> 0:12:30.160 that wasn't really raining, but it wasn't not raining, so 0:12:30.240 --> 0:12:31.720 like it was a question in the air if we're 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:33.880 gonna play, waiting to see if the weather was gonna 0:12:33.880 --> 0:12:37.360 hold up, and so uh this kind of waiting game. 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:38.959 I had to do a bunch of paperwork before the game, 0:12:39.000 --> 0:12:42.959 and like signing to your contract getting transferred over from 0:12:43.000 --> 0:12:44.760 trip to the big leagues, and I had to Puy. 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:47.520 I had never met before like big league. Uh you 0:12:47.559 --> 0:12:50.760 know obviously our big league staff and other athletic trainers 0:12:50.760 --> 0:12:53.000 and pubbies ever met, and so that was all new. 0:12:53.040 --> 0:12:55.160 Everything is super new. You've never been the friend way before, 0:12:55.200 --> 0:12:57.400 so I was new too, So everything was just so 0:12:57.480 --> 0:12:59.160 new to me. I was just trying to absorb it. 0:12:59.480 --> 0:13:01.920 One of my warm ups, I'm just nervous as hall 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:04.600 of hell, and my family and friends are standing behind 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:06.640 like the guy I'm playing catch with, so that's the 0:13:06.679 --> 0:13:08.320 only thing I see when I'm playing catch, you know. 0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:10.800 So it was like welcoming, but at the same time, 0:13:10.800 --> 0:13:12.800 it's just you know, you don't want to overthrow one 0:13:12.840 --> 0:13:15.080 and then throwing the bleachers and everyone's watching. You know. 0:13:15.360 --> 0:13:17.560 That's like how I felt um going in you know. 0:13:17.600 --> 0:13:19.480 The first inning. Well, I was warming up next to 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:22.360 David christ To, who you know, is as great as 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:24.439 they get. You know, I was even watching some with him, 0:13:24.480 --> 0:13:26.440 trying to throw like him as a righty, but I 0:13:26.480 --> 0:13:28.360 know he's left seeing just being in that moment just 0:13:28.400 --> 0:13:30.360 throwing next to him too. It's almost a real So 0:13:31.120 --> 0:13:32.719 I get to the first ending. I throw my first 0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:34.680 pitch to Mookie Best and I yank get hard on 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:36.920 the glove side. The ball felt like a tennis ball 0:13:36.960 --> 0:13:39.520 for real, and um, the next pitch is supposed to 0:13:39.559 --> 0:13:41.120 be down in a way and I missed like kind 0:13:41.120 --> 0:13:43.480 of up and in just trying to throw a strike, 0:13:43.640 --> 0:13:45.400 you know, I'm feeling like I'm throwing a golf ball. 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:48.120 And then he rolls over the third thankfully, and I 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:49.640 saw if I don't think he swings at that, it 0:13:49.679 --> 0:13:51.400 might have been a ball. And I don't know if 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:53.640 I was gonna strike after that, so shout out to 0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:55.800 move to back, getting me see that first out, and 0:13:55.840 --> 0:13:58.880 then uh, ever's next that bat struck him out and 0:13:59.200 --> 0:14:01.800 that was my first strike out is the third guy 0:14:01.800 --> 0:14:04.400 set out, so you know, it's rain delay after that. 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:07.480 So like an hour waiting around and running a bike, 0:14:07.920 --> 0:14:10.760 you know, text with my family, listen to music, trying 0:14:10.800 --> 0:14:13.439 to stay like cool and just kind of playing the 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:15.360 waiting game to see what was going on. And luckily, 0:14:15.480 --> 0:14:18.520 you know, the stash were I mean, they trusted me 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:20.280 enough to go back out there, even in the rain delay. 0:14:20.320 --> 0:14:22.560 So I went back out and got through five and 0:14:22.720 --> 0:14:24.400 me and they're coming back late that game and winning, 0:14:24.480 --> 0:14:27.280 so overall is a really good day. When I got 0:14:27.320 --> 0:14:29.200 taken out of again, there's a letter from David Probace, 0:14:29.560 --> 0:14:31.400 just a saying, you know, like I wish it would 0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:33.200 have been a better day for you, Good luck, sy 0:14:33.680 --> 0:14:35.960 and yeah as long in my career, and it's just 0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:37.640 really cool. It was just like one of those things 0:14:37.680 --> 0:14:41.240 like I'm actually here at the clash saxt uh. When 0:14:41.240 --> 0:14:42.720 you when you look back at it, is it like 0:14:42.720 --> 0:14:44.760 an out of body experience where you're sort of watching 0:14:44.760 --> 0:14:47.240 over you still remember, I mean obviously you know the details. 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:48.480 Does it feel like you did it? Or does it 0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:50.960 feel like it was someone else? Uh? No, I mean 0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:54.040 it's definitely a moment that I won't forget. It felt 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:56.160 like an out of body experience, I guess, But I 0:14:56.160 --> 0:14:59.440 mean I definitely can have vivid memories of throwing on 0:14:59.560 --> 0:15:01.480 the foul line and even getting on the mound and 0:15:01.560 --> 0:15:04.640 just being warming up in between anything. I knew exactly 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:06.720 where I was. I could still see it, so it's 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:08.560 something that would be stuff in my head first rest 0:15:08.560 --> 0:15:11.040 of my life. Did you end up with clean lebrons? 0:15:11.040 --> 0:15:13.200 Are you still have those dirty ones? Yeah? Honestly I 0:15:13.240 --> 0:15:14.640 got them cleaned up and they were good to go. 0:15:15.080 --> 0:15:17.920 So I'm just getting another pair of those shoes, the 0:15:17.960 --> 0:15:20.880 same pair after I had wrecked them. So okay, good. 0:15:21.000 --> 0:15:22.800 I was gonna say, someone's gotta take care of you there. 0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:26.160 During the off season, you added a curveball to your arsenal. 0:15:26.480 --> 0:15:29.280 Like I said, you're coming off a very strong season. Uh. 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:32.680 In any other staff, you're you're kind of building up 0:15:32.720 --> 0:15:35.680 to be, you know, a two or three option almost immediately. 0:15:35.720 --> 0:15:39.400 But the Cleveland staff is stacked. How do you feel 0:15:39.400 --> 0:15:42.720 about your chances of making the team slash starting rotation 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:45.760 are now? Well, I mean there's there's no promises. With 0:15:45.800 --> 0:15:48.400 how deep our staff, this is blessing for real. I mean, 0:15:48.400 --> 0:15:49.680 if there's not a lot of things like you should 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:51.480 they have a deep pitching staff. So I mean that's 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:53.880 definitely advantage we have. We have a lot of great guys. 0:15:53.920 --> 0:15:55.840 I mean, I feel really confident where I'm at with 0:15:56.320 --> 0:15:59.600 all my pitches and mentally physically, I'm in a great 0:15:59.640 --> 0:16:02.320 spot to pitch into big league. So, um, you know, 0:16:02.640 --> 0:16:04.440 isn't new who makes the decisions. So I just do 0:16:04.560 --> 0:16:07.720 my part and prepare myself as well as I can. Right. Well, 0:16:07.720 --> 0:16:11.440 that's great? Uh, you and I are both big tattoo guys. 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:13.120 I have a bit less than you. I'm more of 0:16:13.160 --> 0:16:15.360 a pick and shoes spots dude, but you have great 0:16:15.400 --> 0:16:18.840 work on your sleeve and chest. Uh. With social distancing 0:16:18.920 --> 0:16:21.040 becoming a bit of the norm, I've asked this a 0:16:21.040 --> 0:16:23.160 couple of guys already. Do you see, like, how does 0:16:23.160 --> 0:16:25.280 tattooing go on? Like? Does do people have to be 0:16:25.320 --> 0:16:27.280 tested and then you're you're safe to go get a 0:16:27.280 --> 0:16:30.520 tattoo from that guy? What does it look like post pandemic? Yeah, 0:16:31.040 --> 0:16:34.400 tattoo artists are pretty much closed through July, so they're 0:16:34.400 --> 0:16:36.360 on backburners right now. I don't think people can get 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:40.240 private apparently specially private sessions and put those guys out 0:16:40.280 --> 0:16:42.480 of business. So I think right now in a lot 0:16:42.480 --> 0:16:44.560 of states, it kind of depends. But um, yeah, I 0:16:44.600 --> 0:16:46.640 do have a lot of tattoos and it looks like 0:16:46.680 --> 0:16:49.480 it won't be getting anymore for a little bit. But yeah, 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:51.480 I wonder if the future once everything's like, oh, I 0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:53.440 wonder if private is the way to go just but 0:16:53.520 --> 0:16:54.880 I mean I do think like if I'm going to 0:16:55.000 --> 0:16:57.360 be that close to someone for a few hours, in 0:16:57.400 --> 0:16:59.440