1 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: the Fish Stripes podcast channel. We have constant Miami Marlins 3 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: coverage for you throughout the twenty twenty two major league 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: and minor league seasons. Those seasons perfectly aligned this year 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: with their start date, and just because the Marlins, for 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: the first time in a while, have a good, decent 7 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: major league product. That does not take anything away from 8 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: how we're going to be covering what's happening down on 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: the farm. All the Marlins full season affiliates, their short 10 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: season affiliates, extended spring training, everything in between. They say, 11 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: you're supposed to love all of your children equally, But 12 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: for me, if I was forced to choose, you know 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: which of the Marlins minor league affiliates I love the most, 14 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: it would probably be the Pensacola Bluaho's Marlins Double A affiliate. 15 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: This will be their second season connected with the Marlins 16 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: and ten years overall for Pensacola as part of Minor 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: League baseball. So what we just are barely getting to 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: know the Blue Wahoo's from last year, but already a 19 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: change on the play by play broadcast front Eric Breamer 20 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: is stepping into the role that Chris Garagiola had last year, 21 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: and he comes with a lot of the hype of 22 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: a conventional top prospect. Only heard great things about the 23 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: work that you've done elsewhere, Eric, so it's just awesome 24 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: that you're taking the time to speak to us as 25 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: we're only a couple weeks away from opening day. 26 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate the kind words, and thanks for having 27 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: me at I'm just as excited as you are to 28 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 2: get baseball started. 29 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, the timing is pretty fitting, Eric, because I 30 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: just got the notification a few minutes ago that my 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: account got charged the fifty bucks for MILBTV. It's like 32 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: one of the best investments that I make every single year. 33 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. No, we put it on a good product here 34 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: in Pensacola. In fact, a lot of the work that 35 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: we're doing right now is getting the production ready for 36 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: opening day. We start the season at home on April eighth, 37 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: and we're going to have a good product, whether you're 38 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: here in person, listening for free on the radio, or 39 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 2: getting that definite value on the MiLB dot tv subscription. 40 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. I hope to be there in person this year. 41 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: I was itching to go there last year and just 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: trying to find the right time. But it's a high 43 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: priority because every everyone I know that's been down there 44 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: has loved it. And thankfully it's a longer season this 45 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: year than it was last year. Last year was short 46 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: into about one hundred and twenty and now it's one 47 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: thirty eight. Is that right for the season? 48 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, one thirty eight and most of those are going 49 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 2: to be on the front end where we are going 50 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 2: to be playing games in April, whereas last year, I 51 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 2: believe it was May fourth, the first day of Minor 52 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 2: League baseball, and we had that weird in between period 53 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: where the TRIAA level players were at the alternate site 54 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: and then they had to transition away. So yeah, just 55 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: a whole lot easier this year, even with the labor stuff. 56 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: It feels a little bit more normal this year than 57 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: it did last year. 58 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: Sure, just to give some background info on you, Eric, 59 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: you're still relatively young broadcaster, but very well traveled. Pretty 60 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: at this stage, could you give people a quick rundown 61 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: of the teams that you've worked with, you know, going 62 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: back to college, I guess, and to the present day, 63 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: just the different stops you've made along the way before 64 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 1: joining the Blue Wahoos. 65 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: Sure, well, I went to college at Northwestern University, and 66 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: that gave me my first opportunity to get behind a 67 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: microphone and to do so for a Big ten school 68 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: where you have a lot of eyes and ears on 69 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: everything that you do. That was great experience for me. 70 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 2: While I was still in college, I did a summer 71 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: out in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gateman, 72 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: and that is a proving ground for broadcasters, just as 73 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: it is for top collegiate players where they're getting their 74 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: first time swinging a wood bat and traveling on the 75 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: road and doing all that stuff. Well, same for the broadcasters. 76 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: You do it on a daily basis for the first time. 77 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: After I graduated from Northwestern, I spent a year interning 78 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: in the communications department of the Minnesota Twins, and then 79 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: in twenty seventeen, I officially joined the minor league ranks 80 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 2: as the number two broadcaster in this league, the Southern League, 81 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: with the Brewers Double A affiliate the Biloxi Shuckers in Biloxi, Mississippi. 82 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: From there, I went to the Brewers Triple A in 83 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: Colorado Springs, the dearly departed Colorado Springs Skysocks in their 84 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 2: final season as a Triple a affiliate from there. I 85 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 2: did two winters in the Australian Baseball League for the 86 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 2: Brisbane Bandits, one of which was a championship season, so 87 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: that was a lot of fun. And then Stateside a 88 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: year with the Potomac Nationals in their final year in 89 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 2: an old ballpark in Woodbridge, Virginia. Twenty twenty there was 90 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 2: no baseball, but twenty twenty one that franchise moved down 91 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 2: to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where they became the Fredericksburg Nationals, and 92 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: that was a lot of fun to be part of 93 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: a brand new thing. 94 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 3: And now here I am in Pensacola. 95 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: Right here, we'll see if I can find this. Your dad, 96 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: Dick Breemer, he summed it up pretty well in a 97 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: tweet and this was announced that he's been a wildcat, 98 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 1: a gateman, a shucker, a bandit, a skysock, a peanut, 99 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: a fred nat and that alul lahoo. So that's a shortcut, 100 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: I guess to get through all that in just a 101 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: few seconds. 102 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 103 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 3: No. 104 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: He likes to get T shirts from everywhere that I've worked, 105 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: and those are his workout T shirts when he's in 106 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: the hotel gyms on the road with the Twins. 107 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: So from all those journeys, either dozens or perhaps over 108 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: one hundred different ballparks that you've been to in that time, 109 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: I'm curious if there are any particular oddities that stick 110 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: out to you or any like super unique ballparks are 111 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: just ones that for people that haven't done a ton 112 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: of traveling around the country or to Australia, I think 113 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: like destinations that you would really recommend to people, whether 114 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: it's just something that's super comfortable or just entirely unique 115 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: that you've been able to come across. 116 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: Well, if you're looking for unique, Australian baseball is definitely 117 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: the place to be because so much of the infrastructure 118 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: there is retrofitted to other facilities. The Brisbane Bandits home 119 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: ballpark is an old club level facility that butts up 120 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: against a soccer training facility, so center field is like 121 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: three hundred and sixty feet I'm not sure what that 122 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: is in meters, but it's a very shallow center field. 123 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: And then in that league at least prior to the 124 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: pandemic was the Auckland, New Zealand to Atara and they 125 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 2: played in an old, retrofitted rugby stadium, so kind of 126 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: like the Metrodome or the old Marlins facility that went 127 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: by many names. To have a multipurpose facility means that 128 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: you have some weird dimensions and weird bounces and stuff 129 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: like that. They called it the Teal Monster down there 130 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: in Auckland because they had a big left field wall 131 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 2: and they. 132 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 3: Were trying to market it like Fenway Park. 133 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: But here in America, you know, minor league baseball has 134 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: a lot of charming older ballparks and a lot of 135 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 2: outstanding newer ballparks, and as long as you go into 136 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: it with an open mind, there's something to like for everyone. 137 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 1: Absolutely, you'd mentioned before that you're a Northwestern alum. That's 138 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: the same as Glenn Gefner, who is ready a voice 139 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 1: to the Marlins. I did notice that. Yeah, it seems 140 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: that you know him that. How did that come about? 141 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: How well do you know Glenn on the major. 142 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: Glenn, to his credit, has been a great supporter of 143 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 2: student broadcasters at Northwestern, and even when I was just 144 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: a student there, he made a point of making himself 145 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: available to anyone who wanted to pursue this as a career. 146 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 2: I obviously had other connections that I was able to 147 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: leverage as I decided that I wanted to do this. 148 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: But Glenn has been a great resource. He's a great guy, 149 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: and we've continued to stay in touch. We'll probably have 150 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 2: some interaction over the course of the season here as 151 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 2: they checked down on the farm. 152 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: Sure. Yeah, he's been a big supporter of what we 153 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: do here at Fishtrefs too. He's been a guest on 154 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: the pod a couple of times on our live streams. 155 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: He's amazing, and I think this is the first year 156 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: where he's truly going to be the lead play by 157 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: play for about one hundred and sixty two games this year, 158 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: and it's very well deserved. 159 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: He's awesome, well deserved honor, and talk about someone who's 160 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: paid their dues. He did the minor league journey that 161 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: so many of us have taken that I'm taking right now, 162 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: and to see that rewarded with a lead job in 163 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 2: the city that he's known his entire life, it's very cool. 164 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: Right. Speaking of connections, you know your predecessor here at Pensacola, 165 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: that was Chris Grogiola. Were you did you speak with 166 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: him before taking this job and what may have he 167 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: told you, whether it's just advice or observations about what 168 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: it's like covering this team and living in the Pensacle community. 169 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: Chris has been a great resource to me. 170 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 2: I got to know him in twenty seventeen when we 171 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: were both breaking in in this league at the same time, 172 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: him with Pensacola and me over a couple hours down 173 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: the road in Biloxi. And there are some obvious similarities 174 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: between us two in terms of the multi generational aspect, 175 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: and I think we have very similar sensibilities as well. 176 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: So when the Blue Wahoo's for a season became a 177 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: Twins affiliate, I was always keeping tabs on him and 178 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: just you know, keeping in touch. And then when this 179 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 2: opportunity arose when he got his well deserved call to 180 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: the big leagues as the voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks 181 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: or a voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and we kept 182 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,599 Speaker 2: in touch and it turned out that I'm going to 183 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: take his place. So very cool and the one too 184 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: rounded up the middle, Who's got it? 185 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 3: Sims on a dive, taps the. 186 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: Back rows to first double play. 187 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: Unbelievable. One of the finest plays you'll see all season. 188 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: Does it get any better than this? 189 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 3: Demetrius sims. 190 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: So, what are some of your first impressions of Blue 191 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: Wahoo Stadium itself preps prognosticating the playing style in what 192 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: the conditions might be like during games, or just the 193 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: amenities that you've seen now that you've probably had some 194 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: time to explore it. And also the fact that this 195 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: year is lead the first year that's using an artificial 196 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: turf surface, one of the very few minor league teams 197 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: that do so, apparently the same sort of material that 198 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: the Marlins used at their ballpark. Just on any of 199 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: your observations about those elements entering this season. 200 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: I got my first taste of Bluejohoo Stadium back in 201 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen when I did a road trip with the 202 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 2: Biloxi Shuckers, and it was very impressed, but only had 203 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: to only experienced it for a brief time, a couple 204 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: of games at a time. Now that I'm here and 205 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 2: I have more equity in this ballpark in this area, 206 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: it's outstanding. And we really haven't seen it in its 207 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 2: full form since maybe last week because I showed up 208 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: a little more than a month ago and the turf 209 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 2: was still getting in. They didn't actually finish the turf 210 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: process until last Monday, I believe, and then last Tuesday 211 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: we started hosting some Division three games. In fact, if 212 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: you hear any cheers in the background, that's a UW 213 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: Whitewater playing a Blue Wahoo's Classic the College Tournament here 214 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 2: down on the field as we speak. So, yeah, it's 215 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: a gorgeous place. You mentioned the artificial turf. It's gonna 216 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 2: be the same material as Lone Depot Park, and also 217 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: the Marlins high a affiliate in Beloit, the Beloit Skycarps, 218 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,719 Speaker 2: So there's going to be some consistency across the organization 219 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: and that can only help things if you want to 220 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 2: develop someone who is going to be playing at the 221 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: major league level on a surface like this, it's good 222 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: that they have some experience on it. Another new thing 223 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 2: this year, they upgraded the standards for overhead lighting, so 224 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 2: we have upgraded to LED lights that put on a 225 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 2: really cool show when you hit home runs and stuff. 226 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: Haven't quite seen that in practice with the fans in 227 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 2: the stands yet, but I'm sure before too long someone's 228 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 2: going to hit a walk off home run and it's 229 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 2: gonna be even cooler because the light show we can 230 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 2: put on great. 231 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think memory Sherves me right. The Triple A. 232 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: Jacksonville has done something similar to that through the years 233 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: that really, even from MILDTV, you really get a good 234 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: sense the effect. So that's a nice touch that people 235 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: will enjoy. 236 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I came from Fredericksburg where we had a 237 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: brand new ballpark and they too had the LED lights 238 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 2: that could do some very cool stuff. So it adds 239 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: to the in person experience, and if you do it right, 240 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: it can really add to the broadcast as well. 241 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: For sure. I had a question about a couple of 242 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: things from Minor League baseball last year. It was the 243 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: first year of the six day a week scheduled Tuesday 244 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 1: through Sunday with Monday off days. I think we spoke 245 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: to Chris about this like towards the end of last 246 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: season and got some feelings from him, But I'm sure 247 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: everybody handles that a little bit differently, and just in general, 248 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: it seemed that most people really appreciated that change in 249 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: the consistency from week to week throughout the year. I'm 250 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: curious about how that was for you and any side 251 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: effects we might not consider from outside about what it 252 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: is to have like that stable schedule all throughout the year. 253 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: I really liked it because, you know, as someone who 254 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 2: travels on the road with the team, you're pretty much 255 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 2: cutting the amount of bus travel in half if you're 256 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 2: doing a six game series rather than pairs of three 257 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 2: game series. And I think the most underrated aspect of it, 258 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,959 Speaker 2: the most underrated improvement, is that you are always playing 259 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 2: the series finale on a Sunday, more often than not, 260 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 2: gets scheduled in the afternoon or early evening, and that 261 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: gets you back at a decent time. It allows you 262 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 2: to fully enjoy or utilize that Monday off day however 263 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: you see fit. And you know, I don't mind, as 264 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: a baseball purist of sorts, I don't mind seeing an 265 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: entire rotation all the way through. That was one thing 266 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 2: that I talked to scouts last year, so many of them. 267 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 2: You know, if you wanted to see, say the Birmingham 268 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: Barons when they came to town, well you had to 269 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: keep close tabs on what their rotation was lining up 270 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: as because what's the point in seeing the Birmingham Barons 271 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 2: if their ace pitcher isn't going to even appear in 272 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 2: the series. Well, with a six game series, you know 273 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 2: you're going to see everyone in the rotation at least once, 274 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: perhaps if you have a five man rotation, even twice, 275 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 2: And that's an adjustment for sure, but something that I like. 276 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: The one thing that I would have liked last year, 277 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: and I'm very pleased to see that we've made some 278 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: moves in that direction. This year is a little bit 279 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: more variety of schedule. A lot of that was just 280 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 2: for COVID reasons, simplifying the schedule, minimizing the time that 281 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 2: everyone was crammed on a bus. But in last year, 282 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 2: speaking of the low a East to the league that 283 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: I was in last year, now at the Carolina League again, 284 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: I think we played ninety six of our one hundred 285 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 2: and twenty games against three teams in our division and 286 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 2: that got repetitive over time. So this year there's a 287 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 2: little bit more variety. Speaking now in the twenty twenty 288 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 2: two Southern League, I believe play everyone in our division 289 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: twice at home, twice on the road, and then once 290 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: at home, once on the road for the teams and 291 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: the other division. So I think that's about the right 292 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 2: mix and it'll give us a little bit more variety 293 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 2: as we see different teams come in throughout the season. 294 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: I love perfect segue into what I was going into 295 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: talking about the league names. Last year, all the names 296 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: were kind of stripped of their tradition and as generic 297 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: as possible across all the minor league levels, and it 298 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: seems they did a quick reversal on that to go 299 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: back to the historic names with Pensacola thing in the 300 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: Southern League. I mean, from the outside, I really didn't 301 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: know what the big deal was about that. Maybe you 302 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: have a better perspective on it about why people felt 303 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: as passionately as they did about those league names. 304 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: Well, I don't want to tell any tales out of school, 305 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 2: but I believe the reason that they changed last year 306 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: was in the transition from the minor league Baseball operating 307 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 2: as an independent entity to now being under the umbrella 308 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 2: of Major League Baseball. There were some legal ramifications and 309 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: copyright concerns that they had about who owned the rights 310 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: to the different league names and all that stuff. 311 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 3: I'm not a lawyer. 312 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: I don't know how all that went down, but it 313 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 2: made sense, at least for last year, to err on 314 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: the side of caution. I feel pretty strongly that one 315 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: of the charms of minor league baseball is its connection 316 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 2: to history. Speaking of the Southern League. You know, this 317 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 2: goes back to the nineteenth century. I believe eighteen ninety 318 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 2: nine at the very least is when the Southern League 319 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 2: first operated in this region. And even though Pensacola has 320 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: only been here for ten years. You go to a 321 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: market like Birmingham and you have that connection to the 322 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 2: Birmingham Barons of old, the Michael Jordan days, and then 323 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: you go back even farther to the early part of 324 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 2: the twentieth century, you have Negro Southern League history. You 325 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 2: have other aspects of it that I think it just 326 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: makes a lot more sense to have it connected to history, 327 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 2: because that's one of the reasons baseball is so unique. 328 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: History is always present in conversations about the game, now. 329 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: That I think about it. Jacksonville very recently moved up 330 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: to trip A, but for decades they had been part 331 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: of the Southern League, and you can notice it. They 332 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: did really pay tribute to some of that history and 333 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the promotions that they did in the 334 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: uniforms that they used. And even though it would seem 335 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: from an overview like a no brainer to move up 336 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: in the minor league ladder like it was from what 337 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: I understand they were like pretty reluctant to do it 338 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: because they didn't want to sever any part of their history. 339 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: But that also goes into some elements of just double 340 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: A baseball in general, Like even with Triple A technically 341 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: being higher, I mean, a lot of people, myself included, 342 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 1: enjoy Double A baseball more than any other level, just 343 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: because there are so many prospects that are reaching maturity. 344 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: Yet there's all these players for the most part, that 345 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: don't yet have major league experience, so you don't really 346 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: have that influx of journeymen I should say, coming at 347 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: different stages of their careers. It's that perfect lens of 348 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: talents really manifesting after a number of years, and so 349 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: the quality of competition and yet the stage of the 350 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: career that these guys are in, I just think that's 351 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 1: really special. From watching it from the outside. 352 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. 353 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 2: I'm in the unique position of having broadcast games at 354 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: all four full season levels. To go Double A Biloxi 355 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: to Triple A Colorado Springs, to Hi A Potomac to 356 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 2: Low A Fredericksburg, now back to Double A. I've seen 357 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: it all, and I agree with you that in terms 358 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 2: of following prospects. Double A is probably the league that 359 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 2: you'd like to follow the closest, because once you leave 360 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 2: Double A, you're probably not coming. 361 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 3: Back to Double A. 362 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 2: But there are unique charms to every level, and I 363 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 2: think Jacksonville ultimately will be pretty happy down the road 364 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 2: that they moved up to Triple A because Triple A 365 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: carries with it its own kind of cachet. 366 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: Right Well, now that you mentioned the prospects and the 367 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,959 Speaker 1: players themselves, you did get an opportunity, from what I understand, 368 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: to see some of these players up close in Jupiter, 369 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: where major league game minor league spring training is still 370 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: kind of winding down at the moment. What sort of 371 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: observations do you have from that, whether about individual players 372 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: or just the way that the Marlins operate. Now that 373 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: you've had you've had insight to several different major league 374 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: organized is there anything in particular about the way that 375 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: the Marlins do business that stuck out to you during 376 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: your visit. 377 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: More than anything, it was just nice to meet the manager, 378 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 2: Kevin Randall they call him Smoke, and you meet a 379 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 2: couple of the players that might be with us. I 380 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 2: did see both the Double A and the Triple A 381 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: rosters playing some backfield scrimmage games. But let's be clear, 382 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 2: I mean those rosters are pretty loose in spring training. 383 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: They throw the pitchers wherever they know they're going to 384 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 2: get inning. So I really don't have any idea what 385 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: our roster is going to look like. But it was 386 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 2: unique for me to see how the Marlins and Cardinals 387 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 2: share a facility because growing up I always went to 388 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: the Twins Complex and Fort Myers and they had it 389 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: all to themselves, and that is a definite benefit, I 390 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 2: think in some regard. But I think there's also a 391 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 2: benefit to sharing a complex because you know that you 392 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 2: already have a built in opponent just a walk away, 393 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: and that is something that like this year in handy 394 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 2: when you want to minimize the travel and get the 395 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 2: most bang for your buck in a limited spring training. 396 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: Time, right exactly. So, even though at this stage might 397 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 1: might be a a big question as to what particular 398 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: players that you're covering, you may have noticed noticed that 399 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: the Marlins have in recent years developed this reputation of 400 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: being great at developing pitchers, in particular starting pitchers. Just 401 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,400 Speaker 1: to throw a couple of names out that I feel 402 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: pretty confident you'll see this year. Zach mccambery and probably 403 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: Antonio Vales are both guys that were with Pencil Cole 404 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: in the second half of last year and at varying 405 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: degrees of success while they were there. Have you had 406 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: an opportunity during your career to call a no hitter 407 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: or a perfect game, because I know that's something a 408 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: lot of broadcasters really relish, or if you haven't made 409 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: it all the way through nine innings? Have there been 410 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: any really close calls. 411 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 2: With that never made it through all nine innings, never 412 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 2: called a perfect game, never called a solo no hitter. 413 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: But I have had two combined no hitters, and they 414 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 2: just happened to be parts of double headers, so they 415 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: were seven innings. The first one I shared the broadcast 416 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 2: in double a Biloxi, so I was not on the 417 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 2: call for the final out that one. Boy I remember 418 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 2: a couple of names. I remember Forrest Snow was part 419 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 2: of it. But it was again just a bullpen game, 420 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 2: and it's one of those games where you don't even 421 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,199 Speaker 2: realize it's a no hitter until you look up at 422 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 2: the scoreboard and you realize, hey, we're five innings into 423 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 2: a seven inning game, and they don't have a hit yet, 424 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 2: and it turned out that they didn't get one throughout 425 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 2: the entire game. Last year in Fredericksburg, we also had 426 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 2: a combined no hitter that was again a combined no hitter, 427 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: again a bullpen game, but made all the more peculiar 428 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 2: by the fact that there was about an hour long 429 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: rain delay in between innings two and three. So the 430 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 2: starting pitcher Hilberto two left, they had someone else go 431 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 2: the middle three, Amos Willingham I believe, and then laif 432 00:21:55,320 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 2: Strom got the final out in a seven inning combined 433 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 2: no hitter that I think was a final score of 434 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 2: twelve to nothing. So again not exactly high stress or 435 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 2: high drama, but a nice little footnote in an inaugural 436 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 2: season for the fred Natz and something that I can 437 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 2: always remember fondly. 438 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: Right, I hadn't been thinking about this until the words 439 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: came out of my mouth, but I mean in the 440 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: minor leagues at this point, the way, not just with 441 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: double headers, but especially with nine ending games, but even 442 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: with seven ending games, just the way that most of 443 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: these players are the pitchers are really closely managed with 444 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: their endings totals over the course of a whole year, 445 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: and just knowing that ultimately their value to these teams 446 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: is what they do in the majors. It's I mean, 447 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: it's hard to imagine the scenario where you're calling a 448 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 1: one pitcher full no hitter in the minors, right, just 449 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: because of the way that those circumstances and best practices 450 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: have changed. With the way that these teams handle their 451 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: pitching prospects. 452 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's only one that immediately comes to mind in 453 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 2: recent memory, and that is here in Pensacola, we're celebrating 454 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 2: our tenth season, so we're looking back at some of 455 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: the more memorable moments in this team's history. In twenty seventeen, 456 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: when I was in this league calling games for Biloxi, 457 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 2: Tyler Malley, who was at the time of Reds prospect, 458 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 2: was pitching here in Pensacola, and he threw a perfect 459 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 2: game against the Mobile Bay Bears, And just you know, 460 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 2: five years ago, it seems so foreign to me that 461 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 2: they would let a starting pitcher go all nine innings. 462 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 2: And maybe if the situation we're right in, the pitch 463 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 2: count were low enough, they would let that happen. But 464 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 2: even just in the changing pitching approaches, efficient pitch counts 465 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 2: are more and more hard to come by. So if 466 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 2: we get one of those, we should definitely savor it, 467 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 2: because I don't think you see it happen too often 468 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 2: in the minors anymore. 469 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 1: Right, Marlins fans in general at the major league level 470 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,880 Speaker 1: have been spoiled at some extent. We've gotten I think 471 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: six no hitters already in the short history of their franchise, 472 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: and even from some unlikely pitchers. But even their drought 473 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: is building up a little bit, and they're getting kind 474 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: of anxious to see one of those performances coming up soon. 475 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: At one time, yeah, I hope so. But this year 476 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: in particular, now that there's a designated hitter in the 477 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: National League, that actually changes a whole lot about That 478 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: makes it even more incredible if it somehow happens. 479 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I'd like to see the act of 480 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 2: a picture with a no hitter going out for a 481 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: meaningless at bat in the top of the ninth inning. 482 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 2: I mean, that's kind of one of the charms of 483 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 2: a National League no hitter. I guess we won't see 484 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 2: that ever again, where they're standing in the box and 485 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 2: you know they're never going to swing, but they get 486 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 2: a nice round of applause and stuff like that. But yeah, no, 487 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 2: I hope that it happens here and I guess we'll see. 488 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: I guess quickly. While I brought up the topic of 489 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: the DH now that it seems to be an official 490 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: part of baseball moving forward, I suppose that didn't really 491 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 1: impact you too much as somebody that they've grown up 492 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: around American League baseball. Is that something that you think 493 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: it was just finally time to get done and long overdue? 494 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I grew up in a DH world. 495 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 2: I don't have too hard an opinion on it. But 496 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: having called upper levels minor league baseball for a couple 497 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 2: of years, you got to see the first cuts that 498 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 2: some of these guys ever took. Because at least in 499 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 2: the olden days, speaking of you know, prior to this year, 500 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 2: what would happen was if the two teams at Double 501 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 2: A or above were both minor league teams, they would 502 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 2: play under National League rules unless the managers decided that 503 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: they didn't want to. So I got to see I 504 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 2: think Freddie perolta Brewers prospect, swing a bat for the 505 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 2: first time in his life, and that wasn't pretty and 506 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 2: stuff like that. When you see firsthand how unprepared so 507 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: many of these young pitching prospects are. I think it 508 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 2: was just as well that we got rid of it, 509 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 2: and hopefully the DH makes the game more exciting even 510 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 2: though you're losing a little bit of strategy. Maybe they'll 511 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 2: introduce different types of rules to introduce strategy in different ways. 512 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: It was something in particular that really killed the Marlins 513 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: last year. Even by pitcher standards, there's were more impotent 514 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: than anybody else's. There were so many games where their 515 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: third string catcher ended up taking a critical at that 516 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 1: late in the game just because it ran out of 517 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 1: other available position players. So it's I think the vast 518 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: majority of people are kind of on the same boat 519 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: as you when it comes to that. I wanted to 520 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: finish up with just some questions about your broadcasting style 521 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: and what people can expect from that. Are there any 522 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 1: particular principles that are really important to you about how 523 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: to effectively broadcast the game? Are there any catchphrases that 524 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: you've carried throughout your career, just other bits of terminology 525 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: that you feel that you use and that people should 526 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: be prepared for when they listen to you. 527 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 2: I think the thing that I always strive for in 528 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 2: my broadcast is authenticity. As long as I'm being myself, 529 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 2: then I don't have to act. And if I don't 530 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,719 Speaker 2: have to act, then hopefully the listeners can appreciate that 531 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 2: they're sensing something genuine when I feel excited or when 532 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 2: I feel disappointed, or anything that comes up over the 533 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 2: course of a game and season. I don't have any catchphrases, 534 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: and that, again, I think speaks to my desire to 535 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:27,439 Speaker 2: be authentic and make everything a spontaneous reaction to what 536 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 2: I see. I think that also just approaching the game 537 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 2: as a spectator and as a fan and realizing that 538 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: the people who have tuned in did not tune in 539 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 2: simply to hear you. They want to know about the 540 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 2: game and the players. I think that's a good north star, 541 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 2: a good barometer, and something that I try and stay 542 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 2: true to make sure that I'm not making it about myself. 543 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 2: And you can add to the enjoyment for the listener 544 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 2: or the viewer without making yourself the star of the show. 545 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: I think that's served me any broadcasters well over the years, 546 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 2: and that's the way I like to approach it. 547 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: This is one particular issue that came up with us 548 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: last year still going through various COVID protocols. How the 549 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: interaction between broadcasters and players maybe wasn't able to be 550 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: as intimate last year as it was in usual years 551 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: because of those precautions, And now I imagine almost all 552 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: those have been pulled back. Yeah, how would you explain 553 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: that about how important it is to get to know 554 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: these guys off the field or before and after games 555 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: in order to properly convey who they are when the 556 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: game is actually going on. 557 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna lie. 558 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 2: Last year was really tough, and especially at the minor 559 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 2: league level, when you're not allowed in the clubhouse and 560 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 2: there are carve out rules for potentially having a PR 561 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 2: person in the clubhouse, but at the minor league level, 562 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: you are the PR person, so there's no one on 563 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: the inside to set up those interviews for you. You're 564 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 2: really at the mercy of who's answering texts and who's 565 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 2: answering calls, And of course you understand when they don't 566 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 2: pick up because they've got a job to do. But yeah, 567 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 2: you know, just you learn so much from the players 568 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 2: and from the other broadcasters when you can have those 569 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 2: face to face casual interactions in the clubhouse and the dugout, 570 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 2: around the batting cage and the press box. 571 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: I try and you. 572 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 2: Go out to lunch with the other team's broadcaster once 573 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: in a while, and that's a good way to learn 574 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 2: about the other team and take their temperature on how 575 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 2: things are going. That all colors in the framework of 576 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 2: the broadcast. And one thing that is very challenging about baseball. 577 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 2: If you don't have that extra ammo going into a 578 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: three hour live broadcast, there's plenty of downtime and having 579 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 2: those stories, those anecdotes help really fill that out and 580 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 2: keep it engaging in high energy throughout the entire game. 581 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 2: So yeah, this year, hopefully we are back to more normal. 582 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 2: At the very least. I know there are still going 583 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 2: to be some COVID protocols, and they're put there for 584 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: a good reason. But the more we can interact with 585 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 2: the players, the more we can help tell their stories 586 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 2: and make them look and sound good. 587 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 3: That's good for the game. 588 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 1: Well, we're greatly looking forward to hearing those stories and 589 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: learning about these players. Has been Eric Breemer from the 590 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: Pensacola Blue Waho's entering the twenty twenty two season. The 591 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: way that the schedule lines up. Marlin's opening day is 592 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: going to be the exact same day as the Blue Wahoo's, 593 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: but the time slots are just perfect. Because it's a 594 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: four to thirty game Eastern time for the Marlins playing 595 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: the Giants, and then it's seven thirty Eastern six thirty 596 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: Local time for Pensacola on their opener. It creates a 597 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: perfect doubleheader just like that. 598 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Pensacola, despite being in Florida, is still Central Time, 599 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 2: and we play the vast majority of our season in 600 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 2: Central Time. To say, for I think one two week 601 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 2: road trip at the end where we go up into 602 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 2: Tennessee and play Chattanooga and the Tennessee Smoky, so we'll 603 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 2: be in Central Time. It'll be nice to have a 604 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:55,719 Speaker 2: little bit of time shifted viewing if you want to 605 00:30:55,800 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 2: go multi screen or multi device. It's going to be 606 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 2: a lot of fun this year. I think we're gonna 607 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 2: have a good team. I'm not sure what the team's 608 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 2: gonna look like, but I think it's safe to say 609 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 2: at this point we're gonna have some really talented pitchers 610 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: coming here through Pensacola this year and enough bats to 611 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 2: win some ball games too. 612 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'll just throw out some names at the last 613 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: minute to look forward to. I mentioned mccambley, Antonio Vallez, 614 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: Griffin Conine presumably is going to be back after finishing 615 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 1: last year. He of course the son of mister Marlin, 616 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: and everybody here is pulling for him to eventually reach 617 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 1: the big leagues, perhaps in the very near future. One 618 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: other sleeper, but potentially in your bullpen, I don't know 619 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: if the start of the year the middle of the year. 620 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: Right hander Anthony Maldonado. I really love his stuff. He 621 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: was dealing with injuries last year, but he is a 622 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 1: South Florida native and he was really popping as a 623 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 1: prospect right before that injury. So that's another guy that 624 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 1: I'll just put on your radar. 625 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, Maldonado, if he's healthy, should be a pretty big contributor. 626 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 2: One of the nice things about being with the blueja 627 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 2: Who's is our parent organization, the Studor family of companies. 628 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 2: They own High A Beloit, the Skycarps. So I think 629 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: we're going to just naturally spend a little bit of 630 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 2: time keeping an eye on those guys down there, and 631 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 2: they will be future Blue Wahoos if they perform well. 632 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 2: So another name that you didn't mention. And I don't 633 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 2: know where he's going to start, but I had a 634 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 2: chance to see Yuri Perez down in Jupiter facing the 635 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 2: Nationals double a team on a backfield, and I think 636 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 2: it was seven strikeouts and three innings and change, just 637 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: electric stuff. 638 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 3: I don't need to tell you that. 639 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 2: I know he's been a pretty hyped up prospect in 640 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 2: Marlin's Land here for the last year. But yeah, wherever 641 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 2: he starts, if he ends the season in Pensacola or higher, 642 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 2: we will have been all the better for it, because 643 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 2: I think he's got some really, really exciting potential added it. 644 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: That's an understatement. That's an understatement, in my opinion, the 645 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: very best prospect up they have, and it would be 646 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: bold to start him at Pensacola. He's not even nineteen 647 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: years old yet, but it seems inevitable that he will 648 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 1: pass through at some point during the So one. 649 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 2: Thing to keep an eye on with Perez. To my knowledge, 650 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 2: he's never really pitched in cold weather, So if they 651 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 2: start him in Beloit, that would be a change for him, 652 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:12,959 Speaker 2: something that he will have to get accustomed to if 653 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 2: he wants to be a big leader. But also if 654 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 2: they decide to just skip them straight out of Pensacola, 655 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 2: maybe that will be part of the calculus. Just trying 656 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 2: to make sure that he's comfortable and set up for 657 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 2: success wherever he starts. 658 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: So that's going to do it here covering Pensacola, luwhile 659 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: who is the future home of Urie Perez and the 660 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: season long home of Eric Bremer on the call of 661 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: their games coming up in just a couple of weeks. 662 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: I appreciate all this time and inside Eric, this is great. 663 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely, thanks for having me keep in touch throughout the season. 664 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 2: It's going to be a fun one. 665 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: And everybody please listen to our pods throughout the year. 666 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 1: We kind of streamlined our podcast operations. We used to 667 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: call these shows earning their stripes, and now I put 668 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 1: it under the official show umbrella. A whole lot of 669 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 1: interviews with people around minor league baseball, as well as 670 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: the Tis of Prospects themselves, So I'm sure I'll be 671 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: in touch with Eric indirectly to set up some of 672 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 1: those interviews throughout the year right here on the Fish 673 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: Drives podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts, please subscribe, rate, 674 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 1: and review all that fun stuff. This has been Eli Sussman. 675 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 1: Here As always Go Fitch.