1 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to a Ball with eric Os. 2 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: I am eric Os, and welcome to episode number seventeen. 3 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: Is This week we'll be talking with one of the 4 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: lumber Kings catchers, j D Osborne, a character, if there 5 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: ever was one, always fun talking with. JD had taken 6 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: some time with us when we were out in Now Diamond, 7 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: part of a lumber Kings series win against the Los 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Angeles Dodgers single a affiliate the Great Lakes Loons for 9 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: what has been simply put the hottest team here in 10 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: the Midwest League. We were talking about how successful the 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: lumber Kings had been on our last episode. Well, not 12 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: a whole lot has changed, folks. They've now won twenty games, 13 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: the first team to do so in the second half. 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: We are recording this following a loss though on his 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: Sunday Mattinee at Cooley Lost Stadium, the home of the 16 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: Lansing Lugnuts single affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, but 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: that has really been an anomaly as of late. The 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: first team to reach the twenty win mark in the 19 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: second half are the Clinton Lumberkings, in sole possession of 20 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: first place, doing so with some really outrageous offensive performances. 21 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: It seems like everyone one through nine in the lineup 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: has been heating up, some of them hotter than others, 23 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: but certainly has been impressive to watch the likes of 24 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: Connor Scott, who had touched on last week. His hitting 25 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: streak it has continued now up to twelve straight games. 26 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: It was eleven coming into the action today until a 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: double and that's what Connor's been doing as of late 28 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: now twenty three of them on the season. For Connor Scott, 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: the average continuing to rise is one for four performance, 30 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: seeing his average now at two point fifty four on 31 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: the season following the Sunday game against the Lansing Lugnuts. 32 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: And also you've got the likes of Peyton Burdick. He's 33 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: been hitting around five hundred RBIs all over the place. 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: Peyton Burdick, just we had on the podcast last week. 35 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: He's in just twenty six games with the lumber Kings 36 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: again recording this on July twenty first, after Sunday's game, 37 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: and he's got twenty two RBIs. Lumber Kings that are 38 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: also seeing performances from the likes of Thomas Jones and 39 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: Bubba Hollins, Evan Edwards he had homered in back to 40 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: back games, including a very dramatic one. Really both dramatic 41 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: home runs, but none more dramatic on Saturday Night win 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: on July twentieth here against Lansing. It came in the 43 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: top of the tenth thinning, the lumber Kings coming from behind, 44 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: trailing three to nothing at one point, and would win 45 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: it in the tenth inning to take game one of 46 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: a three game series with the lug Nights. It is 47 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: how the lumber Kings have won now all their games 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: on this Eastern Division tour of the road trip for 49 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: the final time in the twenty nineteen regular season. Three wins, 50 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: three come from behind efforts. And it may be odd 51 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: to think about that because if you're following the lumber Kings, 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 1: you'd think, well, one of those wins was pretty lopsided. 53 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: It was sixteen to seven. How was that possible? Well, 54 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,399 Speaker 1: not only was it possible, it was the largest come 55 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: from behind win of this road trip. Lumber Kings had 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 1: trailed four to nothing. Alberto Guerro in a very uncre 57 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: characteristic rough start, chased in the first inning after just 58 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: two thirds of an inning, allowing four runs because he 59 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: walked five guys in the frame, so he had thrown 60 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: quite a few pitches in addition to only getting the 61 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: two outs, and then all of a sudden, the bats 62 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: they came alive two runs in the following frame to 63 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,119 Speaker 1: prove the lumber Kings had an answer. It's what we'll 64 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: be joking with with Jadie Osborne because while he hit 65 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: a home run to start what turned out to be 66 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: one of three home runs for the lumber Kings in 67 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: that game, Will Banfield would hit the first Grand Slam 68 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings this season later on in the contest, 69 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: and lumber Kings would go out to a thumping sixteen 70 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: to seven of the Great Lake Sloans. We'll be spending 71 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: some time talking about it, even though it was a 72 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: couple of days ago. When you have a day like that, 73 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: it's fun to highlight. It's also one of those old 74 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: stories you hear in baseball of I had a good 75 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: season today, and that was the case for the lumber Kings. 76 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: The most runs they had scored all season long. In fact, 77 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: it was the most run scored by a lumber Kings 78 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: team going back to two thoy and sixteen, so four 79 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: years of baseball, and they had not equaled it until 80 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: they had beaten the Loons sixteen to seven on a 81 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: Thursday night out at down Diamond. In addition to that, 82 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: they had seventeen hits that was a season high as well. 83 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: He had performances up and down the board by the 84 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: lumber Kings one through nine as you would imagine, and 85 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: then a phenomenal pitching performance that shouldn't be lost in 86 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: all of the offense by Elkin al Kala, he said, 87 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: a professional career high with four to third innings of 88 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: relief really steadied the game for the lumber Kings after 89 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: the brief appearance and abbreviated start by Alberto Guerrero in 90 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: that appearance, they then went on to beat the Loons 91 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: and again come from behind fashion on the final night, 92 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: Friday Night, Game three of that three game series, and 93 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: thanks to Evan Edwards, the first of his two consecutive 94 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: homer days, he would tie the game with a home run, 95 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: a solo shot in the seventh in lumber Kings would 96 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: then go on to win it on a wild pitch, 97 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: and after ninety nine games in the twenty nineteen season, 98 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings are now fifty three and forty five 99 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: and as we mentioned, in first place in the Western 100 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: Division during the second half, the dramatics has been impressive 101 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: to watch, but also with the offense, which of course 102 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: is going to gather the headlines, right. I mean, Greg 103 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: Maddick said it best that chicks dig the long ball. Well, 104 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: everyone they dig the long ball, and you don't really 105 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: think about the defense. But it has been incredibly impressive. 106 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: Now we do record this after Sunday's Mattene loss, in 107 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: which three errors were committed, but we'll just call that 108 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: an anomaly for right now, because for the first time 109 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: in the twenty to nineteen season, the lumber Kings win 110 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: an entire series without committing an error, doing so against 111 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: the Great Lakes Loons, and it has just been a 112 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: one point eighty turnaround for what we had seen in 113 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: the first half. Granted, here in the Midwest League, the 114 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: first half usually means temperatures in the thirty and forty 115 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: degree range to begin the season, so it's kind of 116 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: hard to feel your hands, which we are told is 117 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: important to field your position. They had committed and have 118 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: committed one hundred and twenty errors now on the season, 119 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,119 Speaker 1: ninety six of which, though came in the first half. 120 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: Only twenty four in the second half so far for 121 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings, it has been a turnaround that's seen 122 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: the fielding percentage slowly creep up. No longer listed as 123 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: the worst defensive team by way of errors and fielding percentage. 124 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: In fact, for a large portion of the first half 125 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 1: of the season for the lumber Kings they had the 126 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: worst fielding percentage and the most errors committed in all 127 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: of professional baseball. That is no longer the case. They've 128 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: moved up four spaces in those categories with the results 129 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: of really just steady defense that has really made the 130 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: pitching shine. Now, the pitching's been there all season long, 131 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: but now you factor in a defense that's not committing 132 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: a whole lot of mistakes, and it just keeps mowing 133 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: guys down. And when you've got a six man rotation 134 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: seven if you count the piggyback performance of Manuel Rodriguez, 135 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings have an embarrassment of riches here that's 136 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: beginning to click. And there is only been really one 137 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 1: blemish so far, and it does come from a highly 138 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: touted prospect, and that is Tyler Kollik. Now, we had 139 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: Tyler Kullich on our pregame shown. We'll try to get 140 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: him on the podcast at some point this season. A 141 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: second overall pick by the Miami Marlins in the twenty 142 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: and fourteen draft, Kulick had made an appearance in that 143 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: sixteen to seven win that we were highlighting for the 144 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: Great Lake Sloons and unfortunately had been one of the 145 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: few blemishes for the lumber Kings. Alberto Guerrero chased in 146 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: the first and also Tyler Kullich in the seventh, and 147 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: he just a wild hair up bis Nos allowed three 148 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: runs and the Loons did so without the benefit of 149 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: the hit. Colick would walk four batters in that appearance 150 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: and just struggle to throw strikes and really anywhere near 151 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: the plate as he was unquirking wild pitches that were 152 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: way over the reach of his catcher. Way Will Banfield 153 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: and the fastball that we were expecting around one hundred 154 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: hundred and two miles per hour. A guy that is 155 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: dealing with some injuries on the road to recovery, it 156 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: was around ninety four miles per hour. We'd say it 157 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: at a topped out as now we're expecting that to 158 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: slowly climb. But a guy that is battling back from 159 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: Tommy John he had a rib taken out two from 160 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,559 Speaker 1: an injury. Tyler Collick a twenty three year old hard 161 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: throwing right hander from Shepherd, Texas. It has only been 162 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: his third appearance of the season, so a limited sample 163 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: size for Colick, but just something to mention too on 164 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: what I imagine will be one of the lumber Kings' 165 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: options here down the stretch and what's become I'm mean 166 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: a playoff run here in the second half. 167 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: Well. 168 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: JD Osborne, he's been part of that playoff run and 169 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: he'll be joining us next talking about long balls and 170 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: of course hockey. JD's a good old Canadian boy, as 171 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: he tells us, and also we're going to have some 172 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: fun with him asking about his most embarrassing moment of 173 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: his baseball career. JD Osborne joins us next on a 174 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: Ball with Eric Ohs and welcome back to a Ball 175 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:52,719 Speaker 1: with Eric os We're now joined by one of the 176 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: lumber Kings catchers, JD Osborne. Thanks for taking some time 177 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: to talk with us here on the podcast side of things. 178 00:08:57,960 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: Pleasure. Thank you, Eric, Thanks for having me. 179 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: And the lumber Kings. It was kind of funny when 180 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: we were setting this up because we were going over 181 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: the interview and what would work for time wise, and 182 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: you said, oh, maybe come back after I have a 183 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: good game. 184 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 3: Well that was the case because. 185 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: We record this on July nineteenth, after the lumber Kings 186 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: very lopsided win over the Great Lakes Loons. Osborne had 187 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: one of the three home runs, a three hit performance 188 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: for you. So I guess a good place to start 189 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: what was working so well for you at the plate, 190 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: as well as a lot of other lumber Kings in 191 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: that lineup last night. 192 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 3: Just simplifying, man, that's it. 193 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: Just trying to stay as basic as possible, you know, 194 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 2: not think about too much. I mean, obviously it's a 195 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: beautiful field, so you kind of get fired up. 196 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 3: Coming to a real nice ballpark to play. But yeah, 197 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: just taking it one strike, one pitch, one at time. 198 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: And that was a case for the lumber Kings, we 199 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: should say, playing a Dow Diamond, the single affiliate for 200 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that first home run for 201 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: Osborne started off the three home runs for the lumber Kings. 202 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: Later on in that inning, Will Banfield had the first 203 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: home or grand slam as a lumber King this season 204 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: and We've been with JD all season long, because you've 205 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: been here since opening day. So what it has the 206 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen season been like for you at a full 207 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: length season like you are here in the Midwest League 208 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: with the lumber Kings, It's been up. 209 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 3: And down, man, I mean. 210 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,719 Speaker 2: Coming in just kind of have like not the backup role, 211 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,359 Speaker 2: but I mean obviously Banfield's gonna get the majority. 212 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 3: Behind the dish. 213 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, just trying to contribute anyway that I can to 214 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: the team, you know, being a clubhouse guy, swinging the 215 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 2: bat like I do, and then just filling in defensively 216 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 2: where they need me. So just trying to put it together, 217 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 2: try to put together a season, you know, because you're 218 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 2: not playing every day, so you just got to stay 219 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: warm in areas, you know, keep everything to a basic 220 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: to the just as simple as possible. 221 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: So how does that go in with the role too? 222 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: Because you mentioned Banfield, you know is going to be 223 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: getting the lion's share of the playing time. And what 224 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: that's meant for you is we've seen you into the 225 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: DH role at times to get that bad into the lineup. 226 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: We've also seen you over at first base. So does 227 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: that change just the complexion of going into this season 228 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: knowing that you know you're gonna have to move around 229 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: a little bit more to get those bets that you're 230 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: looking for. 231 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 3: I mean, I kind of expect that. 232 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: Just because defensively, I mean, I don't have like one 233 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 2: sound position, so I mean my position basically is to hit, 234 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 2: So I try and keep my bat as fresh as possible. 235 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 2: You know, I'm always in the case getting work done, 236 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 2: and I just like to keep my options open as 237 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: well defensively, and they, I mean the organization, but my 238 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: manager Mike jacobscs that I have the ability to play 239 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: other positions, so it kind of works out and helps 240 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: out the team. Just get my bat in the lineup, 241 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 2: but just trying to contribute anyway that I can. 242 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: And that bat too. As we mentioned the last night, 243 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: the sixth home run of the season, so we've seen 244 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: the pop from JD and I guess a good portion 245 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: to a kind of highlight on the schedule was when 246 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: you hit your first home run of the season. It 247 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: began a power searche for Osborne because you were hitting 248 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,599 Speaker 1: home runs just about every day. I think it was 249 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: three straight, maybe four straight games of home run balls. 250 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: So I've heard about hitting being contagious. Is that the 251 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: case also for power if you just get into groove, 252 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: see the ball well and you can drive it. Or 253 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: is that just happenstance as it happened to be. 254 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 3: I don't even know, man, Honestly. 255 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: I guess that's the million dollar question, right, Honestly, I. 256 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 3: Guess I guess that's what you got to ask a 257 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 3: big league of that. Man. 258 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 2: But no, I mean, I mean, there's obviously times where 259 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: you feel way better where you're not really thinking about much, 260 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: you're just playing. And then there's times where, like you, 261 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: you could be struggling a little bit and you start 262 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 2: maybe manipulating too much or just thinking too much, overthinking, 263 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: and that could affect you. So I normally just try 264 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 2: and keep it like as flat as possible, you know, 265 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: don't get up too high, don't get down too low, 266 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: and just kind of have a nice happy medium. 267 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: So and you have to do that for this season? 268 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: Is I mean the lumber Kings and one hundred and 269 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: thirty nine game schedule getting ready for game number ninety 270 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,319 Speaker 1: six here on July nineteenth, in the final game of 271 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: a three game series with the Great Legs Sloans. Is 272 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: that part of the mindset that the Marlins kind of 273 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: instill with you once you get drafted. Now you were 274 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: a twenty second round pick for the Marlins back in 275 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen. Was that a something that they told you, Like, listen, 276 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: when you go out to these you know, longer seasons. 277 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: It may you think, one hundred and forty games, no problem, 278 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: but it's something that you'll have to contend with and 279 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: you have to mentally be prepared for such a task. 280 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say it's like an organization thing. I say 281 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 2: it's kind of more a personal aspect of the game. 282 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 2: You know, it's a long season, it's a grind. You 283 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 2: got to do what takes to get your body in 284 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: shape to play for that many games. Yeah, but I 285 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 2: think like it's just a personal thing. You just got 286 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 2: to be ready, you know. That's why you have a 287 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 2: whole offseason. You got like five months right to get 288 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: your body in shape for the for the entire season, 289 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 2: one hundred and what is it forty four games? 290 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: Well, it's one hundred and forty, but then we lost 291 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: that one game because of the floods and rains down 292 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: in Quad City. So one hundred and thirty nine very 293 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: much more manageablee hundred and thirty nine games as opposed 294 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: to one hundred and forty, but hey, who knows, it 295 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: could be more because of the playoffs. That's where the 296 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: lumber Kings are right now in first place. In the 297 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: second half, have you felt anything different with the success 298 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: the team has? Sad, because I mean the offense was 299 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: stalling towards the end of the first half, and then 300 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: the second half again is like a flip a switch 301 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: at flipped after those first three losses against Wisconsin, and 302 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: it just seems like this lineup, I mean, you're a 303 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: big part of it. We found out last night too. 304 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: It just jels a lot more. You're seeing it stationed 305 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: to station without the trains running late, so to speak, 306 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: as they say in baseball, and also some power that's 307 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: come along. So what have you felt like in the clubhouse? 308 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,239 Speaker 1: Has changed with the offense here in the second half. 309 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 2: Kind of just even killed like I said before, just 310 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 2: staying playing, you know, I mean, whereas a lot of 311 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 2: guys maybe. 312 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 3: Not have had the first half the. 313 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 2: Season that they might have wanted to have or they did, 314 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 2: and you know, they're kind of just getting back to 315 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: even playing and having a happy media mindset. Also the 316 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 2: addition of a few guys that we picked up in 317 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 2: the draft. Birdie's came in. He's been smashing edwards, just 318 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: driving guys in left and right. So a couple additions 319 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: in the lineup every day, you know, So it's kind 320 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: of just stringing together where you can get timely hits. 321 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: It's been working out for us. 322 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: And have you felt there's been some development for during 323 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: the season. I mean, that's why you're in the minor leagues, 324 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: right to slowly get better as the season goes on 325 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: and you kind of get adjusted to the competition level 326 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: here in the Midwest League. Is that something you found 327 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: yourself to be more familiar with and leading to a 328 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: little bit more success in the second half. 329 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 3: I'd say more so defensively. 330 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: I got drafted as a catcher, but I didn't catch 331 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: a lot in college, so this is actually like my 332 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: second full season you can say, of catching. 333 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 3: So I mean it's been a huge learning. 334 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 2: Experience just on that side of the game, you know, 335 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 2: understanding all the situations of the game now, and it 336 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: comes with calling a game as well too, So that's 337 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 2: where I've really been taking a lot of pride is 338 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: calling my games and keeping those eras real low for 339 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: the pitchers out there, but and obviously winning but well. 340 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: Of course, I mean that's why we're here to win games, right, 341 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: and hopefully a championship as well. 342 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 3: Well. 343 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: The lumber Kings were talking here with j. D Osborne, 344 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: one of their catchers, and you touched on it a bit, 345 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: just working with this pitching staff, and it's a pretty 346 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: talented one too, especially when you look at the starting row, 347 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: which seems like it is the majority of the pitchers 348 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: here because we've got a six man rotation and one 349 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: of those is in a piggyback roll with Manuel Rodriguez. 350 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: We got a power arm in Tyler Kolloch who can 351 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: get it up to one hundred and two miles per 352 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: hour a second. Overall, pick what is it like to 353 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: work with this pitching staff? You mentioned calling the games, 354 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: kind of getting adjusted to that, but also as a catcher, 355 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: A lot of the reasons why they become coaches is 356 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: because they have a little bit of ego massaging to 357 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: do during a game and all the different chess matches 358 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: that go on. What has this pitching staff been like 359 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: for you, because you've been here since opening day? 360 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's a game within a game back there. Man, 361 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 2: It's it's different. It's a lot of fun though. This 362 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 2: pitching staff in particular is awesome to work with. I mean, 363 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 2: these guys are also advanced, right, they've been. They've been 364 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 2: great all season pitching staff. Honestly though from my perspective 365 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 2: is we have great starters. We've had great starters all season, 366 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: I mean, which allows them to go a little deeper 367 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 2: into games. And then our bullpen has been lights out 368 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 2: as well, you know, just shutting down those seven, eight, nine. 369 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 3: Innings, three innings, you know. So it's been a lot 370 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 3: of fun, man. Yeah. 371 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,719 Speaker 1: The pitching staff has been a big reason for this 372 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: lumber King success really all season long, and now the 373 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: offense kind of catching up to it. So it's getting 374 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: a little scary, so to speak, for everyone else. Eighteen 375 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: and eight the record for the lumber Kings. As again, 376 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: we record this on it July nineteenth, and you touched 377 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: on a little bit too. We wanted to talk about 378 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: those position changes he had in college as a University 379 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 1: of Tampa, I believe is where your college career had 380 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: I guess taken baseball to the next level for you. 381 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 1: But that was not the original athletic endeavor for jdis Porn, 382 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: as we would imagine a Canadian native. This was a 383 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: hockey guy and as we talked on the pregame show, 384 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: he said, you were a bruiser who liked to fire 385 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: up the boys with big hits. Yes, I was wondering 386 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: if you could tell us about the hockey career for you. 387 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 3: Oh man, it was awesome. 388 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 2: Played TRIPAA hockey my entire life. You know, that was 389 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 2: like the main focus, especially being from up north right. 390 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 2: I mean, we take our hockey very seriously. So when 391 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 2: I was younger, I thought that was like the route 392 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 2: that I was going to go in in life, you know. 393 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: I mean I didn't I didn't practice baseball as much. 394 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 2: You know, it was just something that we did in 395 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 2: the summertime that I mean it was. We were very 396 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 2: serious and very competitive. We had an awesome team growing up, 397 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 2: but hockey was the main focus. And until that dream 398 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 2: got a not I wouldn't say crush, but I mean 399 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 2: until that dream ended when I was about seventeen years old, 400 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 2: sixteen seventeen years old, I didn't get drafted to the OHL, 401 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 2: so I just. 402 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 3: Figured that, I mean, I got to do something else. 403 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 2: You know, so when baseball was working out at the time, 404 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 2: and then shortly after I got asked to play on 405 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 2: Team Canada. So yeah, that's where the baseball career took off. 406 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 2: But as far as hockey, man, I loved it. I 407 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 2: still love it, man. It's great. It's a very characteristic building. 408 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: Being around all the guys in the clubhouse, so you 409 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 2: got so many personalities, similar to the baseball locker room. 410 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 2: I mean, any locker room is going to have that, 411 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 2: But I mean that I think that was a lot 412 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 2: of fun being a part of those guys. 413 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: Did were you being scouted at all? I mean you 414 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: mentioned that you were may be getting drafted or at 415 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: least a hope to be drafted. 416 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 3: But I've played at. 417 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 2: The level where where you were getting scouted, and I 418 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: mean it just didn't work out for me. 419 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 3: I don't know. 420 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 2: I wish I could go back and talk to the scouts, 421 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 2: you know, at the time or right now. I'll just 422 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 2: be like, hey, like, what did you see or what 423 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 2: didn't you see? 424 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: What's the deal? 425 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 3: Yeah? But I mean, no, dude, it was so much fun. 426 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 2: Like I loved I loved reading the plays, man, I 427 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: loved laying guys out. 428 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 3: You know, big hits. 429 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 2: That was huge, firing the boys up, like I said, 430 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 2: and uh, you know, like making plays I was. I 431 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: mean that's why I think catching comes into it a 432 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: little bit, you know, like kind of reading uh the 433 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: other team's offense, reading their defense as. 434 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: Well, so kind of goes hand in hand. 435 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: You're still the big hockey fan too, because I remember 436 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: when the Stanley Cup playoffs were going on, I didn't 437 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,640 Speaker 1: need to watch Espian. I could just kind of listen 438 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: in the back of the bus analysis of different games 439 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: that had gone out. Oh yeah, so that's a big 440 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: passion still for jd. Osbourne. Then you get a chance 441 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 1: to continue the baseball side of things, which, as you mentioned, 442 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: maybe not at the foreground for you originally. And what 443 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: was it like at the University of Tampa because that's 444 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: when the positions began to change a little bit, and 445 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: that's eventually where you get drafted and a professional career 446 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: in baseball begins. 447 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. Tampa was awesome, man, I mean such a beautiful city. 448 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: Was it done just because of the weather, because I 449 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: imagine Tampa's a little bit warmer than Canada, Yeah. 450 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 3: Just a little bit. No, it was. Uh. 451 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: I played actually at Polk State in Florida too, two 452 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 2: years before going to Tampa, so I was kind of 453 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 2: acclimated to the weather as far as the city wise. 454 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 2: Though when I first got to Tampa it was it 455 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: was awesome, man. And I had so much freedom too 456 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 2: with the with the organization there, so it was awesome. 457 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 3: Just a great experience. 458 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: But yeah, they I started dabbling a little bit at 459 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 2: first base, a little bit of catching, not much, but 460 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 2: primarily at third base, and that's where I actually thought 461 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 2: that I might have an opportunity to play at the 462 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: next level. You know, it is playing at a corner position. 463 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: But then they, the Marlins, I guess, saw something else, 464 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: you know, and said, might as well get you behind 465 00:20:59,240 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: the dish. 466 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: So what was the coaching staff like for you in 467 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: Tampa where they were moving you around on the infield 468 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: and then and did the catching role, which I always 469 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: I joked with you, I think on the pregame show 470 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: when we had you out in Wisconsin that it makes sense. 471 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: I mean, a former hockey guy, lots of you know, equipment, 472 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: and that's kind of what a catcher does. A lot 473 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: of punishment too as a catcher too, so that fits 474 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: the mold as well. But you know what was what 475 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: was that like when they first told you, like, hey, 476 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna maybe move you behind the plate a little bit. 477 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: Was there some nerves that maybe were associated with such 478 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: a decision. 479 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: No, I wouldn't say nerves, man, I would just say like, uh, 480 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 2: it's a new position, you know, so you're kind of optimistic. 481 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 2: And I mean I kind of have the personality and 482 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 2: the in the grinder mentality which kind of suits like 483 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 2: a catcher who gets beat up a lot. You know, 484 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: he's kind of thinking all the time about what's happening 485 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 2: in scenarios, constantly sequencing with pitching and h and handling 486 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 2: an offense, you know. So I feel like my personality 487 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 2: would be behind the dish, you know, it's a little 488 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 2: bit more rough around the edges, which is basically me. 489 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: I was wondering if you could relay the story of 490 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: when he got drafted, because that was a great story, 491 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 1: right you're mentioning. You know, you're back home and your 492 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: mom tells you what it happens. So I was wondering 493 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: if you could just tell us the moment that you 494 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: found out that a pro career had begun. 495 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,719 Speaker 2: Wow, when I got drafted kind of like a rollercoaster 496 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 2: of emotions at the time. You know, you think you're 497 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 2: going but you don't. And like you I haven't really 498 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 2: talked to many teams, you know. I mean I talked 499 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 2: to a fair amount, but it wasn't anything in Stone. 500 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:31,959 Speaker 2: I had a meeting actually with a Mets scout and 501 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 2: he came over my apartment in Tampa and he's like, 502 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 2: hey man, we got a workout coming up in a 503 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 2: couple of weeks. And this is near like the end 504 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: of the season at Tampa, and I'm thinking, like. 505 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 3: All right, I might actually have a shot to get drafted. 506 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 3: I could like play at the next level. That'd be cool. 507 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 2: And then I didn't hear anything from like nothing, I 508 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 2: didn't hear anything from any other team, so I was 509 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 2: kind of just going into it a little bit blind, 510 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 2: you know. And then a couple of a couple of 511 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: my really good buddies got picked up and I was like, dude, 512 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 2: that's awesome. Like I was so pumped him, so stoked. 513 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 2: And then all of a sudden, I was like, you know, 514 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 2: I'm gonna go cut the lawn. Well, like my mom 515 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 2: was like fixing up some lunch and stuff, and I 516 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 2: would just go outside mow the lawn and then all 517 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: of a sudden, my Ma came outside and. 518 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 3: She's like, JD, You've just been drafted. And I moaned 519 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 3: the log up my headphones on listen music. I'm like, 520 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 3: what so? And then it was on from there. 521 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: You know, we had a good time, we celebrated, and 522 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 2: then you know, I just got ready to play. 523 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: This is how the professional career had begun for JD. 524 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 3: Osbourne. 525 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: I guess it's always a great moment too when you 526 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 1: get drafted, right, because that's where a lot of hard 527 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: work it paid off and for you, kind of an 528 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: unusual journey because most baseball players they don't go to 529 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 1: hockey route. But that is the case for our guest here, 530 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: JD Osborne, when we had you here for the beginning 531 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: of the season. As we mentioned, you've been with the 532 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: lumber Kings since opening day. So what has it been 533 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: like with this coaching staff that we've seen that a 534 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: lot of high praises have been sung for guys like 535 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs. You've got the pitching coach, and Marty Felice. 536 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: Frank Moore, who's been a veteran in the Miami Marlins 537 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: organization now for I think eleven seasons. So what is 538 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: this coaching staff like and helping that development here in 539 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen. 540 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 3: Man, these guys are great. They're so reasonable with everything. 541 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 2: You know, they're they're just great mentors, that's what I'll 542 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 2: call them. All mentors at a personal level, at a 543 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 2: baseball level. You know, these they're just great man all around. 544 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: They are your shoulder when you need the crawn, and 545 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 2: they're you know, the guy that's gonna punch you in 546 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 2: the shoulder and tell you, you know, like let's go tighten up. 547 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,679 Speaker 3: So they're great mentors all around. 548 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: And I guess it helps too. As you mentioned that 549 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: that long season two, it's one hundred and thirty nine games. 550 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: I think Mike Jacobs kind of said it best when 551 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: we had him on the podcast for our first episode 552 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: that you know, it's hard not to get attached with 553 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: everyone in the clubhouse because, I mean, you see these 554 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: guys more than you see your family. It's six months 555 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: and you know, you're eating together, you're going to the 556 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: same hotels, and you're really at the ballpark all day long. 557 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: So what is that like to in the cause you 558 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: mentioned you're a big clubhouse guys, So yeah, I mean, 559 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 1: you got we just pulled you from a game of 560 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 1: cards to come up here to talk on the podcast. 561 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: So what goes into that. I guess the joviality with 562 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: this group guys, because the twenty nineteen lumber Kings, they 563 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: seem like a pretty tight knit group. 564 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 3: M M yeah, absolutely, man. 565 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 2: I mean like it's kind of just a mindset where like, 566 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,959 Speaker 2: if you build around a family and a foundation and 567 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 2: you pull for one another, then eventually at the end 568 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 2: goal you'll get what you want, you know. So whereas 569 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,119 Speaker 2: it's kind of it's ironic because minor leagues is kind 570 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 2: of individual. Baseball is pretty individual when it comes to 571 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 2: the minor leagues and getting up to the bigs, and 572 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 2: then they say it's about winning. But I mean, if 573 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 2: you drive together as a team, if you drive together 574 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: for you know, you root for one another. 575 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 3: I feel, I really truly believe. 576 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 2: That if you bring together a bunch of guys and 577 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 2: they're all going towards the same goal and want to 578 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 2: get better at the. 579 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,479 Speaker 3: Same time, then you'll have the outcome that you want 580 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 3: at the end of the day. 581 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: And lately that's what the lumber Kings have been doing. 582 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: As we mentioned eighteen and eight. But that's really not 583 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: telling the whole story. Because what the lumber Kings are 584 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: have won eighteen of their last twenty three games. That 585 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: sounds successful. They have been lots of offense, great pitching. 586 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: And before we let you go, as we mentioned he 587 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: here since opening days, so we had to fill out 588 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: a questionnaire. I pulled it out so I just wanted 589 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: to get your your thoughts on this and maybe a 590 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: little in depth answer. And we asked what was your 591 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: most embarrassing moment on the field off of it, and 592 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: you said, try to go first to third on pass ball. 593 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: Broke my hand on the slide at third and was 594 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: thrown up by fifteen feet. 595 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 3: So where was that, man? 596 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 2: We were in West Florida. We were in West Florida. 597 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 2: I was with that by the time. I think it 598 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 2: was my senior year. Man, and you know, we're kind 599 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 2: of we're grooving as a team. It's a little bit 600 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 2: early and like. 601 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 3: We're just like trying to figure each other out still 602 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 3: as a squad. 603 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 2: I mean, we spent the whole fall together, but obviously 604 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 2: when you get into competitive games changed a little bit. 605 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 3: So we're out of time when we're like. 606 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 2: Just starting to like gel together and get like our 607 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 2: offense going connected with our defense and our pitching staff. 608 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 3: And all of a sudden, we go. 609 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: Into a game West Florida and I think I had 610 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 2: a single or something. 611 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 3: I'm on first base and there's a pass ball and. 612 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh yeah, I'm feeling good right, Like I'm 613 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 2: I'm not the fastest guy, man, but. 614 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 3: Like I'm at times I think I am. 615 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,679 Speaker 2: So I started scooting over to second and I'm like 616 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 2: peeking in and I see that the ball is like 617 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 2: all the way to the backstop and the catcher's kind 618 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 2: of just dogging it, and I'm like. 619 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 3: Oh, I got this, dude, he's he baits me in. 620 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 3: He kind of like jogs over and like doesn't pick 621 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 3: it up. And I'm like, I'm going, I got this. 622 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 2: And then I'm like three quarters of the way and 623 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 2: I just see the guy, the third baseman catch the. 624 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 3: Ball and I'm like, no way. 625 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 2: So I like I just dive and he took a 626 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 2: step up and when I dove, my hand hit his 627 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 2: foot and my coach is just like screaming at me, like. 628 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 3: What are you doing? Like you got no wheels, man, 629 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 3: Like where are you going? 630 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 2: Uh? 631 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 3: Yeah? Man? It was. It was actually brutal. 632 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: How long were you out for? I think like too 633 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: that was it for a broken hand? That's too bad. 634 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 1: Well you really are a hockey guy. 635 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll play through anything. Man. 636 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much for sharing the embarrassing story. 637 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 1: We apologize for highlighting it. J Osbourne, thanks so much 638 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: for taking some time to talk with us here on 639 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: able and welcome back to a ball with Eric Ohs. 640 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: You had just heard from the lumber Kings catcher J. 641 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: D Osborne. We thank him for taking some time to 642 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: talk with us at a beautiful ballpark out of Dow Diamond, 643 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: the home of the Great Lake Sloan's The Single, a 644 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lumber Kings can continuing 645 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: that tour through the Eastern Division then move south into Lansing, 646 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: another gem of a ballpark, the largest in the Midwest League. 647 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: It seats over ten thousand and that's where we're recording 648 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: this following Sunday Matinee's loss on July twenty first to 649 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: the lug Nuts The Single, a affiliate of the Toronto 650 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: Blue Jays. The Cathedrals of the East, and it certainly 651 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: isn't lost on the guys. JD kind of referenced it 652 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 1: during the interview that when you play in front of 653 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: these beautiful ballparks in front of large crowds, it's hard 654 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: not to be pumped up, and it seems like the 655 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: lumber Kings have responded to that with some power bats, 656 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 1: great pitching, and just airtight defense. It's been a recipe 657 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: for success for anyone, but there's been few flaws in 658 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings games as of late, and it's why 659 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: they currently own the best record in all of the 660 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: Midwest League. As we had mentioned when we had come 661 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: in a twenty and nine record in the second half, 662 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: the first team to reach the twenty win milestone in 663 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: the Midwest League during the second half, a fifty three 664 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: to forty five record overall in the season, and currently 665 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 1: in sole possession of first place on top of the 666 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: Kane County Cougars, which are the single a affiliate of 667 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 1: the Arizona Diamondbacks, which means there will be a very 668 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: important series that will be coming up. This episode, of course, 669 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: will be coming out on Wednesday, just a couple of 670 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: days from now, and that will be a good time 671 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: to listen to it because it's when the lumber Kings 672 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: take on the Kane County Cougars for an all important 673 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: three game series at home. It is going to be 674 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: the final three home games of the month of July, 675 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: running from July twenty four through the twenty sixth to 676 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: really what for the lumber Kings no matter what, they'll 677 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: be in first place, so whether it be tight for 678 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: first or have a one or two game lead, depending 679 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: on how the final games here in Lansing fold out. 680 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: And then the league wide off day on Tuesday, which 681 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 1: will be used for travel, which will mean the lumber 682 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: Kings will probably get in around oh, I don't know, 683 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: three four o'clock in the morning, but further away out 684 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: here in the Eastern Division, and then it will be 685 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: nothing but the Western Division. Now, when we last spoken 686 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: to you, we didn't have any roster moves to report, 687 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 1: and that is still the case. The lumber Kings have 688 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: been sticking with the same a twenty five man roster 689 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: and that is a good thing and starting to see 690 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: some familiarity now for all of these guys. We did 691 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: want to highlight one skid that did come to an end. 692 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 1: We touched on Connor Scott with a hitting streak that 693 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: has now reached twelve games and on base streak that 694 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: has also reach reached nineteen games on the season for Connor. 695 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: Those are both the second most in the Midwest Leagues, 696 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: reaching Gerara and carnacillone territory. Jerar had begun the season 697 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: with a twelve game hitting streak, also a twenty game 698 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: stretch of reaching base safely for Gerard and Karnacion and 699 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: Connor Scott. He could equal that total the final game 700 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: against the Lansing Lugnuts. But the one stretch that did 701 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: come to an end, a skid at the plate, if 702 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: you will, was Zach Scott, one of the lumber Kings infielders, 703 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: a left handed second baseman that was and is the 704 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: only returner from last year. Zack Scott the son of 705 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 1: Dick Scott, the director of player development who he played 706 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:52,239 Speaker 1: a brief interview with earlier in this podcast history, and 707 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: a former Seattle Mariners prospect. That's how he was out 708 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 1: with the lumber Kings a season ago. Well now in 709 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: the Miami Marlins organization, Zachi was going through a skid 710 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: where he was oh for his last twenty seven at bets, 711 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 1: but he certainly picked a good spot to end it 712 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: and there were thirteen strikeouts steering that skid as well. 713 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: But an RBI single and a win on Saturday night 714 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 1: at Cooley Law School Stadium in front of a crowd 715 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 1: of over eight thousand fans here in Lansing, Michigan, and 716 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: that had ended that skid. It gave the lumber Kings 717 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 1: their first run of the game, kind of come from 718 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 1: behind win where they had trailed three to nothing at 719 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: one point to the lug Nuts. That has been part 720 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: of the lumber Kings keys to success in the second half. 721 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,719 Speaker 1: A team that never says die. We're borrowing that from 722 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: the Goonies, I guess we can say because they come 723 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 1: from behind efforts or now a team that you just 724 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: don't expect to be out of any game. I mean 725 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: the offense, it's been so sharp that you think, well, 726 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: certainly they can string some hits together. And now a 727 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: team that's beginning to have the pop. Peyton Burdick has 728 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: had some home runs as if late we mentioned Evan 729 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: Edwards with back to back home run games. Well, Banfield 730 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: had the first Grand Slam for the lumber Kings back 731 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: in that sixteen to seven win against the Great Lakes Loans. 732 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: But we did want to touch before we let you 733 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: go on Will Banfield behind the plate, and I think 734 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: we'll just call it what probably was his worst defensive 735 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: game of his professional career, and I imagine we won't 736 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: see it again. Banfield. We highlight all the time for 737 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,719 Speaker 1: his defense because well, not enough can be said about it. 738 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: He's got one of the best arms that you will 739 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: ever see behind the plate. He's only nineteen years old, 740 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 1: the powers beginning to develop, that pull side power that 741 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 1: you hear about from scouts and certainly on display during 742 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: that grand slam out in Great Lakes. But what will 743 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,719 Speaker 1: always be mentioned for Will first is the defense, and 744 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: in that Sunday Mattney loss as we record this following 745 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: it on July twenty first, uncharacteristically six stolen bases against 746 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: him without catching any lugnuts stealing and to borrow the 747 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 1: phrase from the rap artist Drake, the loons were on 748 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: or rather the lugnuts were on the move like the 749 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: lease is up. It was just kind of odd to 750 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: see because well, Will had come into the contest with 751 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 1: a percentage of throwing out would be base dealers that 752 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 1: was closer to six two percent. That will now drop 753 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: after going zero for six in that contest against the 754 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: lug Nuts, going a long way as well to defeat 755 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings in a four to two decision in 756 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: which three of those six stolen bases came in a 757 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: three run rally for the lug Nuts, which turned out 758 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,839 Speaker 1: to be the decisive factor. But we had joked about 759 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 1: it on the broadcast that you know, for Lumberkings fans, 760 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: you can start an argument right now who's the hottest 761 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: of them all, because well you could go about eight 762 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:28,480 Speaker 1: or nine different ways with it. Also, Thomas Jones has 763 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: been fun to watch too. We had him saw him 764 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 1: with a RBI double in the second and in just 765 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: his thirty sixth RBI of the season, Jones he is 766 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,800 Speaker 1: eaten up twelve doubles now on the season. The stolen 767 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,439 Speaker 1: bases are now there fifteen of them on the year, 768 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: which for Thomas remember a season ago out in Greensborough 769 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: he had stole twenty of them, so he's well on 770 00:34:47,640 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 1: pace to eclipsing that number. And also with seven home 771 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: runs on the season, could be on pace to break 772 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: his season high of eleven home runs out in Greensboro. 773 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 1: And so Jones starting to put some things together for 774 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings what is a stacked outfield between him 775 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: and Davis Bradshawn, Peyton Burdick and Connor Scott. Well, at 776 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 1: this point, we're gonna shamelessly plug the broadcast side of 777 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: things before we let you go. Can listen to all 778 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,360 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings action, of course, if you're in the 779 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:18,319 Speaker 1: broadcast range on one hundred point three FMWCCI, and for 780 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: those of you outside of the broadcast range, all lumber 781 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: Kings games can be listened to online at Lumberkings dot 782 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: com via the tune in radio app that will do it. 783 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:31,399 Speaker 1: For the episode number seventeen of A Ball with eric 784 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: oas we want to give a special thanks to our 785 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 1: guest JD. Osborne for taking some time to talk with 786 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 1: us out at Dow Diamond and we hope that we 787 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: will have you on the broadcast see you out at 788 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 1: the ballpark at some point during the summer. Lumberkings folks 789 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: are a fun team to watch right now in first 790 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 1: place in the Western Division. Until then, though, we will 791 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 1: talk to you next week with another episode of A 792 00:35:50,719 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 1: Ball with eric Os. 793 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 2: The paym