1 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the first episode of A 2 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: Ball with Eric Ohs. I am Eric Ohs, and it's 3 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:19,159 Speaker 1: good to have you with us for what is the 4 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: inaugural episode of our podcast. Coming to you from the 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: home of the lumber Kings on the bank of the 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: banks of the Mississippi River. Easy for me to say, 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: what is a gorgeous day here in Clinton, And by 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: gorgeous that may be different for some listeners in more 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: tropical areas like in California or out in Florida, but 10 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: it is tropical by our standards. It's in the fifties 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: right now and there is no snow anywhere that we 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: can see, which is a far different story than it 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: was a year ago. So we're glad to have you 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: with us. And in just a second we'll have the manager, 15 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs join us to talk about this opening day 16 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: roster that he has been handed and what will be 17 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: his third year on the coaching side of things in 18 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: the Marlins organization. But the first thing that will be 19 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: jumping out to any close followers of the Marlins farm 20 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: system or Lumberkings fans as well, who are interested in 21 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: seeing the talent that will be out on the field 22 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: as we look out on the bush turf pro grounds 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: crew busy at work right now. But that's going to 24 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: be the only nineteen year olds that are on this roster, 25 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,919 Speaker 1: which is kind of weird to think about because those 26 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: young guys are some of the biggest spotlights will be 27 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: on them. And that of course is Will Banfield, a 28 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: second round pick in the twenty eighteen draft by the Marlins, 29 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: known for his defense. In fact, Baseball America had listed 30 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: him or tabbed him as the best defensive player taken 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: at all by the Marlins in last year's draft. And 32 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: you'll hear from the horse's mouth himself, the manager Mike 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: Jacobs talk about the end to spring training for Banfield, 34 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: and he wasn't talking defense. He was jocking long balls, 35 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: grand slams, a three run homer as well for Banfield. 36 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,639 Speaker 1: So a guy who is really known for a rocket 37 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: arm behind the plate and seeing the bat come alive 38 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: as well. One of the top prospects on this roster. 39 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: But the guy. 40 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: With the highest rank on the prospect watch list, whether 41 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: it's Baseball America preseason had named him as the fifth 42 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 1: best prospect in the Marlins organization or MLB dot Com 43 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: I think it was sixth the last I had seen it, 44 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 1: and that is Connor Scott. He was a first round 45 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: pick in the twenty eighteen draft by the Marlins, seventeenth overall, 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: nineteen years of age, and of course he'll be a 47 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: topic of discussion with the manager Mike Jacobs and talking 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: about the running style. But once you get past all that, 49 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: this is a guy that the Marlins think of incredibly highly. 50 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: That's how you get over a four million dollars signing 51 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: bonus and taken in the first round, so they have 52 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: to think you're a pretty good baseball player in addition 53 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: to all that, And then you have a publication like 54 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: Baseball America speaking of the draft grades that had been 55 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 1: handed out by the publication, Well, they named Connor Scott 56 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: as the best athlete in that draft class taken. So 57 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: there are quite a few big names in high praise 58 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: from Baseball America and several others as well when it 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: comes to the roster that will be here in Clinton, 60 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: and that is just the big names there, of course, 61 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: a well rounded roster when you look at even deeper names. 62 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: Bubba Hollins, who of course is the son of a 63 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: major leaguer you've also got the likes of Sean Reynolds, 64 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: who had seventeen home runs, fifteen RBIs and folks he 65 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 1: played in short seasons. Just expand that over one hundred 66 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: and forty game schedule like we play here in the 67 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: Midwest League, and the numbers for Renolds start to get 68 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: really gotty when you think about it. Seventeen home runs, 69 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: fifty two RBIs, and Reynolds a tough guy to miss, 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: six foot seven, two hundred and thirty seven pounds. So 71 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: if you ever have a question in filling out your 72 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: lineup card and it's a really tall guy, odds aarre 73 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: Sean Reynolds because he will be a big bat in 74 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs or lineup and roster throughout this season. Another 75 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: guy that will be touching on when he joined us 76 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: on the program. Of course, pitching staff and coaching staff. 77 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: So so many things to talk about out right now. 78 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: As the team had just arrived a day ago. We're 79 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: recording this on April first, a day ago the team 80 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,839 Speaker 1: had arrived. It was headshots and today media day. It's 81 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: been a busy i'd say forty eight hours for the 82 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: team and the travel plans, but they've been a really 83 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: fun group to be around, and they were certainly joking 84 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: around with one another in their weights during the photo 85 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: shoot that we had yesterday, and it seemed like a 86 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: pretty good crowd. They also were kind enough to fill 87 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: out a questionnaire on some of the finer points of 88 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: the players here in Clinton that I'm sure we'll have 89 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: some fun with as the season goes on, and as 90 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: we'll be joined by Mike Jacobs next. When we come back, 91 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: it'll be all things about this twenty nineteen Lumberkings roster, 92 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,679 Speaker 1: as well as the coaching staff. Jacobs will be joined 93 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: by the pitching coach, Mark de Felice, a three year 94 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: Major League veteran with the Milwaukee Brewers, and Frank Moore, 95 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: a hitting coach who is now in his eleven season 96 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: in the Marlins organization. On the coaching side of things 97 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: during his playing career had reached us high as the 98 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: TRIPLEI levels. When we come back, it'll be Mike Jacobs 99 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: kind enough to take some time and ti with us, 100 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: and then we'll join you by ourselves again to wrap 101 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: things up on the inaugural episode of A Ball with 102 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: Eric Ohs. We'll be right back, and we're now joined 103 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: by the manager for the Clinton lumber Kings. Mike Jacobs, 104 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: you are the first guest on the single A or 105 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: A Ball Rather podcast here at ERKO. Thanks ver much 106 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: for being the first. 107 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. 108 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: Very brave and glad to have you too. This is 109 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: an exciting team from every thing that we've read about 110 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: and we've heard about. Uh. At first, you're gonna look 111 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: at top prospects like Connor Scott and Will Banfield. But 112 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: what is just your overall takeaway going into this season 113 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: of the group of guys you have here in Clinton. 114 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 3: Uh, it's a good group. You know, we got we 115 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 3: got a lot of guys that I that I was 116 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 3: with you know last year as well, and you know 117 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 3: with with some of the new guys like you said, 118 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 3: Bandfield and and uh and and Connor. It's uh, it's 119 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 3: gonna be young group, which is good, but it's gonna 120 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 3: be a group that uh, I think you're gonna be. 121 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 3: It's gonna be exciting to watch these guys play and 122 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 3: watch them develop over this year. 123 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: And so it's when you think about like Connor Scott, 124 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: right thirteenth overall pick last season, Will Banfield, who a 125 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: lot of people consider is one of the best defensive 126 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: players in the Marlins organization. But what is it that 127 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: highlights it in your eyes of why they have that 128 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: that high respect, the the high prospect ranks that you 129 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: see in Baseball America or MLB dot Com pipeline and 130 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: your eyes, what are the parts of their games that 131 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: really stand out to you? 132 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 3: Oh? Well, I think that both guys are are guys 133 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 3: that are well deserved of those rankings. And you know, 134 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: you mentioned Banfield. He's for as young as he is, 135 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 3: is extremely polished behind the play. As far as his 136 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 3: defensive skills, He's got a cannon for an arm. You know, 137 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 3: it's gonna it's gonna be fun watching him back there, 138 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 3: especially against teams that like to run, you know. And 139 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 3: he's got he's got some pop in the bat, you know, 140 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 3: he he can swing the bat well. One of the 141 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: last days we were down there in spring training at 142 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 3: a coup, he had I think he had a Grand 143 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 3: Slam and like a three run homer in the same game, 144 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 3: which was was fun to see. And Uh, Connor Scott, 145 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: you know, he's uh, he's young. He I think fans 146 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: will get a kick out of him. He's got a 147 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 3: little bit of an unorthodox style of running. I think 148 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 3: he's still trying to learn his body a little bit. 149 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: Is it like the Hunter Pens type of running hands 150 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: at the side. 151 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is a little Hunter Pincis Hunt Hunter Pentish. 152 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 3: But you know, he's a he's a great young man 153 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: and he uh, he can swing the bathroom left side 154 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 3: a little bit. And even just from what I've seen 155 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 3: from instructional League to now, he seems to have gotten 156 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 3: a little stronger, the balls coming off the bat a 157 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 3: little better, and you know, he's, uh, he's gonna be 158 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 3: fun to watch. 159 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: And obviously these guys are are pretty young just because 160 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: of them being drafted pretty recently, but there's a lot 161 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: of maturity, a lot of age on this roster as well. 162 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: Do you feel like that kind of offsets each other 163 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: and plays well the ying and yang, so to speak 164 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: of a clubhouse of having the experience and then also 165 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: the youth of guys like Connor Scott. 166 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, because you know, the young guys can kind of 167 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: look around for for some guidance and you know, how 168 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 3: to go about their business. And which is also my 169 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 3: job as well, is to help teach those young guys 170 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 3: that that kind of stuff. And as of my staff 171 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 3: is as well. Well, you know it, I was around 172 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 3: most of these guys mostly screen training, and we have 173 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 3: a lot of good levelhead guys. I just like to 174 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: go out and play baseball, and you know it's it's exciting. 175 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: I that's getting down to the wire. 176 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: Well, we'll go over you and the coaching staff a 177 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: little bit here that's in Clinton, and I'll start by 178 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: putting a lot of pressure on you from one of 179 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: the articles we had read. So here in Clinton, we 180 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: were obviously very excited about the affiliation change here with 181 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: the Marlins and the new players that we've be coming in. 182 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: So I think it was Wells Dansborough who's down at 183 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: the Sun Sentinel down in Miami. He had mentioned that 184 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs could have one of the most important jobs 185 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 1: in the rebuild. So no pressure, of course, they're all 186 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: but these are some of the players that you've had before, 187 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: because you've obviously been in the organization last season two 188 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: seasons ago, or last two seasons with the Batavia Muckdogs. 189 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: So what kind of role do you feel you and 190 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: your staff will be playing here with the development of 191 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: all these guys and maybe some familiarity of you having 192 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: some of these guys a season ago. 193 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I think it's a lot of responsibility, 194 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 3: and it's a lot of good responsibility to have, you know, 195 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 3: when you're tasked to lead these young men and you 196 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 3: know them having the confidence and the fact that our 197 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 3: staff can do that is a great opportunity, great challenge 198 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 3: for us, you know, I think I think at the 199 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 3: end of the day, you're you're you're you're not only 200 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 3: trying to teach these guys how to be professional baseball players, 201 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 3: but you teach them how to be young men as well. 202 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 3: And you know, I think that's that's part of the 203 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 3: job that maybe goes overlooked at times. I think when 204 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 3: you can go mine both of those things, you know, 205 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 3: it helps shape these young men to be good professional 206 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 3: young men and good professional young baseball players. And that's 207 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 3: what I'm looking forward to trying to do with these guys. 208 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: And that's what the Marlins are looking for as well. 209 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: The coaching staff that you'll be having with you, Mark d. Felice, 210 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: who will be as pitching coach, Frank Moore as the 211 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: hitting coach. Mark looks like he's gonna have some pretty 212 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: talented arms, and some of those arms are ones that 213 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: you know pretty well because of just looking at just 214 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: the numbers that had been put up in Batavia by 215 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: some of these guys, especially in the starting rotation. But 216 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: we'll start I guess in the bullpen. Zach Wolfe was 217 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: phenomenal last season. It looked like for you at one 218 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: point eight two e r. A had seen other big 219 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: names that had been on the mound, hat and Colbertson, 220 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: Sean Gunther, Chris Belmont and what what do you feel 221 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: like Defilea's kind of when you just look at the seasons, 222 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: these guys are coming off of an embarrassment of riches 223 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: and it seems like that development that he had hit 224 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: on kind of progressing well and what they'll be building 225 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: on here. So I don't want you to speak maybe 226 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: for Mark, but I guess we'll we'll go ahead and 227 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: start there. But how do you feel that the pitching 228 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: staff will be shaping up for the guys that DeFelice 229 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: will be working with here? And you know. 230 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 3: I, you know, this may be my first year working 231 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 3: with Mark and just being around him in spring training, 232 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 3: uh for the last couple of years, But just as 233 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 3: as a guy, that's all my staff, you know, I 234 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 3: have a good relationship with him already, you know, and 235 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 3: he cares about the players as well, and I think 236 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 3: that's one of the things that you have to do. 237 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 3: You have to really care about these guys and and 238 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 3: and want what's best for them. And you know, he's 239 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 3: he's obviously guy that had some time in the big leagues. 240 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 3: You know, he's been doing this for a few years now. 241 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 3: He knows what he's doing. You know, I like to 242 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: even though I'm the manager, you can say however you want. 243 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 3: That is too, but you know, these guys have their 244 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: departments and I'm sure I'll bounce stuff off him. He'll 245 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 3: bounce stuff off me as well. And but you know, he's, uh, 246 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 3: he's been doing this a while and he knows what 247 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 3: he's doing, so I think and I think he's had 248 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 3: some of these guys too, you know, at certain times 249 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 3: over the last couple of years, so you know, it's 250 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: some familiarity for the guys and for him as well. Yeah. 251 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And when we were talking about those prospects like 252 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: Banfield and Scott, maybe it kind of does get lost. 253 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: And I mean these guys are pretty high picks as well, 254 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 1: like Peyton Colbertson, but great season thirty innings of work 255 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: for you in Batavia an era that was two point eight. 256 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: What are some of these pictures that we had mentioned, 257 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: like Gunther, Bellamont and Colbertson. What what has worked for 258 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: them so well that you had seen firsthand last year? 259 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 3: You know what, Uh, that's a tricky question because you 260 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 3: threw a guy in there with me that that I 261 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 3: was going to say something that's right. Yeah, I apologize 262 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 3: to have to be careful with what say. Sometimes got 263 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 3: your questions. No, you know what, I think a guy 264 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 3: like I like like Valamont, who you know we had 265 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 3: at the beginning of the year or at the end 266 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 3: of the year last year. You know, his his fastball plays. 267 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 3: He's got a good breaking ball. He's just got to 268 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 3: get little more consistent throw strikes. When he throws strikes, 269 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 3: he he's really good. So you know that'll be one 270 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 3: of the challenges for him is getting himself into a 271 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 3: good routine and being able to come out and throw 272 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 3: strikes every day. When he does that, he throws a 273 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 3: ball well gone through left hand or pitcher. He's a 274 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 3: strike thrower. You know, He's not an over intimidating presence 275 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 3: on the mound as we can hear me pouring my 276 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 3: coffee through the background music here. You know, he's I 277 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: didn't have him much last year. I want to say 278 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 3: I had him my first year. But again, he's the 279 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 3: guy that throws strikes. You know, he's got a good 280 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 3: breaking ball. And with Colberson, you know, it really comes 281 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 3: down the same thing. As long as these guys can 282 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 3: throw strikes and these guys are around the zone, there 283 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 3: are other stuff plays, so you know, and that's pretty 284 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 3: much the story for for anybody really when you want 285 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: to talk about it. So you know, I'm looking forward 286 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 3: to to the guys that we have. I think our 287 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 3: starting rotation is gonna be good. 288 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: And what's the starting rotation looking like here? 289 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 3: I think I think it's gonna be I got it 290 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 3: right there, and I think it's gonna be violent Roberson, Mahia, Colberson, Rodriguez. 291 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 3: But that's always subject to change, so you never know. 292 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 3: One of those guys may not feel good today or 293 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 3: tomorrow and we might have to make a switch. But 294 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 3: for his most part, that's what it looks like it's 295 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 3: gonna be. 296 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: That is on the pitching side of things. Wanted to 297 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: mention some of the power bats too, Renalds. 298 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: I'm not hitting. 299 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm just playing all right. It's not all about you, Mike, 300 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: but it definitely is not. Sorry for the reminder, but 301 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: we were kind of joking around yesterday was when the 302 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: team had arrived and we had taken care of the 303 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: head shots and we were handing out the name so 304 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: the photographer would know exactly who was taking the photos. 305 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: And one person I did not need to get a 306 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: name from with Sean Reynolds, the guy six foot seven. 307 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: So this is someone who ate all of his vegetable 308 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: and that may that be a reminder to you. But 309 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: seventeen home runs last season, obviously a lot of strikeouts, 310 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: so that was maybe a concern coming into this year. 311 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: But lots and lots of power from this guy. Well 312 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: what did you see from him in that power that 313 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: translates obviously with that huge frame of his. 314 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: You know, I saw a guy who made a lot 315 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 3: of a lot of adjustments and a lot of strides. 316 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 3: You know, I think, really now in this day and age, 317 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: strikeouts really aren't that big of a deal, nor is 318 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 3: batting average. Batting average is more of a look statistic 319 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 3: that we're finding out, which I think we've always known that, 320 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 3: but we like to look at it because it's on 321 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 3: the scoreboard every day and. 322 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: Right, and it's been repeated for one hundred years. 323 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. But when you look at what he did 324 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 3: last year as far as the homers, the stolen base 325 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 3: is how he came along defensively last year. You know, 326 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 3: seventeen home runs in the shore season eight ball club 327 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: is a lot of home runs. The RBIs I think 328 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 3: what he made, what do you have? Almost sixty RBIs. 329 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm just looking at her now, fifty six or sorry, 330 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: fifty two. 331 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 3: But so you put that into a full season club, 332 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 3: you know, you're talking about a guy, a guy that 333 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 3: hits thirty plus and one hundred drives one hundred runs. 334 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 3: So yeah, I may strike out two hundred times, but 335 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 3: you know, it's a lot offensive production, so you know, 336 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 3: and he's made some good adjustments this this spring. I 337 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 3: think he went all of spring training last year or 338 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 3: all of extended spring training last year without even hitting 339 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 3: a home run and did to go out and hit 340 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 3: seventeen last year, and I think this year he had 341 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 3: about four or five homers in spring training. So you know, 342 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 3: it's it's it's it's a process and it's coming and 343 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: he's fun to watch. He's a great kid. You can't 344 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 3: miss him obviously. Like you said, he's you know, I 345 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 3: cared very deeply about Sean. He he I don't want 346 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 3: to say he's grown on me because he's just it's 347 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 3: not that he's grown on me. He's always been on me, 348 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 3: but he's just, you know, he's just a great kid. 349 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 3: He wants to get better every day. He's fun to 350 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 3: talk to, and I've been really impressed with with the 351 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 3: strides that he's made. 352 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was pretty fun just seeing him have the 353 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: back and forth with will Banfields. 354 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, they go back and forth. Yeah. Course, that's 355 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 3: one thing that this clubhouse will have this year is 356 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 3: guys having a good time with each other. 357 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 1: Yeah. I felt kind of just stuff in the corner 358 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: with my mouth laughing the whole time, kind of dopey. 359 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: But it was fun to see and I'm sure we'll 360 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: be seeing a lot of it this season. Other power 361 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: bats too, not just Sean Reynolds, but last season out 362 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: in Greensboro was Marcos Rivera. He had twelve home runs 363 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: with the Grasshoppers and Thomas Jones, who was there as well. 364 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: Thought he had a really interesting line. Obviously not in 365 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: Greensboro to see it, but when you factor in the 366 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: power of eleven home runs, the stolen base is twenty 367 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: of those, which were the most of the roster from 368 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: last season. So that's got to be just the balance, 369 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: right that would come into an offensive approach that we 370 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: could see here this summer. 371 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, he a guy like Thomas Jones. I had my 372 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 3: first very year and he's very raw, very you almost 373 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 3: want to say new to the games. Not that he's 374 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 3: not new to the game, it's just he's just he's 375 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: such a raw talent that he's not real, real refined. 376 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 3: And I think the more he plays, the more it's 377 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 3: going to get refine, and ultimately the more his ability 378 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 3: is gonna come out. He's a guy that flies. He 379 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,719 Speaker 3: can he can play all three outfield positions. He's got 380 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 3: a little sock in his bat. Excuse me that we 381 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 3: obviously found out about last year. He's just fun to watch, 382 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 3: you know, he's he's a great kid. He uh he 383 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: loves to run. Gosh, guy guy flies, but he'll be 384 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 3: fun to watch. 385 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that that will be another I to keep 386 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 1: on too. We were having some fun with it too, 387 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: because the lumber Kings last season they were a Seattle 388 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: Mariners affiliate, and I think it was two years ago 389 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: we had heard about this guy we could be getting. 390 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: His name is Christopher Torres. He's a prospect with the Mariners. 391 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: Ended up not working out that way. Well, all roads 392 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: lead to Clinton because Christopher Torres, he is on the 393 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: roster this season, switch hitting bat that you'll have in 394 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: your lineup as well, one of the five infielders. What 395 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: can you tell us about Chris You. 396 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 3: Know, he got hurt last year on a on a 397 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 3: really gutsy play. He came around third base and uh, 398 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 3: I went to hold him up, and as I went 399 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 3: to hold him up on I don't remember if he slipped, 400 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 3: he did something where he pulled his hamstring or tweeked 401 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 3: his knee, one of the two. I don't remember exactly 402 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 3: what it was. And as he came around and he 403 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 3: went down, the ball still hadn't gotten back into the 404 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 3: infield yet and saw him young get up, get up, 405 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 3: and he actually got up and hopped on one foot 406 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 3: all the way to home play and it was almost 407 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 3: he had to still go like seventy five feet and 408 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 3: it was amazing or see anything like it, you know, 409 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 3: And then obviously we realized that, you know, he hurt 410 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 3: himself and you know, it was a bummer that he did. 411 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 3: But when he ended up coming back from that, he 412 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 3: was on fire. Man. He swinging the bat well from 413 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 3: both sides. One thing with him, you got to you know, 414 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 3: he you gotta get him. Hopefully he gets off to 415 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:48,479 Speaker 3: a good start and he gets that confidence because when 416 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 3: he gets his confidence going, he starts rolling. 417 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's great to hear. Just the toughness too, 418 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: which there's no stat for it, but obviously something that 419 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: is a big factor for it a lot of these guys. 420 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: Because I remember we're talking with some brigman who's now 421 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: in the organization. Back when he was with the Mariners though, 422 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: but you know, he'd played in a lot of travel 423 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: ball as a top prospect, and we asked him at 424 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: the I think it was August, so late in the season, 425 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: like how you feel in how the goals like shaped 426 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: up for you? He said, Man, one hundred and forty games. 427 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: You know, it's one thing to think about, it's another 428 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: to be a part of it. So that's that's toughness 429 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: is going to have to factor in giving the grind 430 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: of baseball and the nature that it is. Well, we'll 431 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: have some fun with you before we let you go. 432 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: It is going to be Sundays at some point during 433 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: this season at home. That's going to mean Copa de 434 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: la de version. I hope I'm saying that right with 435 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: the accent. But the Clinton elotes. You got a chance 436 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: to look at him. We know we didn't take the 437 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: headshot from you when we were getting taking care of 438 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: all that stuff. But what was your first impressions of 439 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 1: the pink and gold or pink and yellow as it were. 440 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 3: Well, it's an interesting color, but it'll be good. Anybody 441 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 3: that's ever been down to like say in Mexico or 442 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 3: something like that, where I've spent a lot of time 443 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 3: the Altes. You can buy him on the side of 444 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 3: the road, you know, in a cup like this, like 445 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:03,120 Speaker 3: you don't drinking coffee in and it's a corn they 446 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 3: put Sometimes they'll put mannies and I don't like it 447 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 3: like that, but they'll put corn, some cheese, some hot sauce, 448 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 3: and it's it's it's an amazing it's an amazing little snack. 449 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 3: So uh, that was the first thing that I thought 450 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 3: of when I when I saw saw the hats and 451 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 3: and the name and what have you. 452 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: So well you good, You're already ahead of us, because 453 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: when we first got the Elotes name, it was straight 454 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: to google what is this? And I guess that's a 455 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: good place to start in just getting to introduce you 456 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: a little bit more major league veteran as well, a 457 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: big power bat which we've joked about a little bit 458 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: here as well, one hundred home runs at the major 459 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: league level, and also time with the Marlins of course too, 460 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: so a professional crew which is really cool because as 461 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,199 Speaker 1: you mentioned, playing in Mexico, I think that was the 462 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 1: last stop and then it went right into the coaching career. 463 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: So if you could just give us a brief bio 464 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: of how you got to Clint, as we said, all 465 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: roads lead here. 466 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 3: Event yeah, absolutely. You know my last year plane was sixteen, 467 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 3: I believe it was, and was down actually playing in Tijuana. 468 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 3: That's the Mexican League down there, and I played in 469 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 3: that league for a few different years. And when I 470 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 3: didn't get a job for a winter ball long story 471 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 3: short just pretty much means you're not going to get 472 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 3: another job during during the summer either, So I figured 473 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 3: I wasn't going to be able to keep playing anymore, 474 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 3: and started making my phone calls and reaching out to 475 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 3: people that I knew. The Marlins obviously reached back out 476 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 3: to me, and kind of the rest for that is history. 477 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 3: As far as was hired that offseason, spent my first 478 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 3: year obviously in Batavia. We went back there with the owner. 479 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 3: Changed last year again with the Batavia and had much 480 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 3: improved season I thought from the year before, which was 481 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 3: contribute to the players that we had, and then now 482 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 3: we're here in Clinton, which I'm happy to be here. 483 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: What is the What do you think is it's been 484 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: I guess you're going into your third season as the manager. 485 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: What do you feel is maybe something that you now 486 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: have a whole new appreciate for on the coaching side 487 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: of things that you may be didn't as a player. 488 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 3: The time that the coaching staff has to put in, 489 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 3: and the organizational skills that you need to have to 490 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 3: be able to make it as smooth as you can 491 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 3: for the guys. Really, really, what you want to do 492 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 3: is you want to be able to come in and teach, 493 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 3: but you want them to never see all the behind 494 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 3: the scenes stuff. You want them to just be able 495 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 3: to come in, see the lineups, see the schedule, know 496 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 3: where they need to be at what time during that day, 497 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 3: and know that they're going to get their working, not 498 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 3: not having them worry about seeing what goes on behind 499 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 3: the closed doors. As far as the work that we 500 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 3: put in as coaches to prepare for our day, to 501 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 3: be able to prepare excuse me, prepare for them because 502 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 3: you just again, you just want them to come here 503 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 3: and play. So that and the patients. You got to 504 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 3: have a lot of patients to do this, which I 505 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 3: think I knew going in and I think it's something 506 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 3: that I've definitely been able to have. You know, it's 507 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 3: you're teaching these guys how to be professional baseball players, 508 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 3: and they're going to make mistakes, and they're gonna screw 509 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 3: some screw some things up every once in a while, 510 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 3: and that's all part of it, and that's okay. It's 511 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 3: our job to help correct those and let them understand that, hey, 512 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 3: you're gonna make mistakes. It's not gonna be perfect every 513 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 3: day no matter what we do. And uh, you know, 514 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 3: God willing we get to wake up next day no 515 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 3: matter what and come and do it again. 516 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and especially for the lumber Kings. That's gonna be 517 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 1: very exciting because we're just days away, I think Thursday, 518 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: Kane County. I'll give you the biggest softball question and 519 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 1: we'll let you go after this. But we're ready right well, 520 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: this is we're ready for this, right absolutely, Kane County Thursday. 521 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 1: So we'll give a shameless plug to the broadcast w 522 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 1: c c I one hundred point three FM, and of 523 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: course Mike will be joining us on Fridays for our 524 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: Coaches show. That is a manager, Mike Jacobs, thank you 525 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: so much for joining us on the first ever Thank you, 526 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:50,880 Speaker 1: thank you. 527 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 2: And welcome back on a ball. 528 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: You just heard from the manager for the Clinton lumber Kings, 529 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs, about the twenty nineteen opening day roster, which 530 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: will be in full effect on Thursday night against the 531 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: Cane County Cougars. That is when Minor League Baseball's opening 532 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: day will happen, of course, a very significant date for 533 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: all of us here at the A level. The team 534 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: will be taken on the Arizona Diamondback Single A affiliate 535 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: the Cane County Cougars with the hopes of playing baseball. 536 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: If you are new to the lumber Kings, experience last year. 537 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 1: It was snow and cold weather, which really was the 538 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,960 Speaker 1: theme unfortunately of the first two months of the twenty 539 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: eighteen season, and so when the team had gone out 540 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: there last year, there were no games played. It was 541 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: snowed out the first day, it was too cold to 542 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: play on the second day, and so what it really 543 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 1: amounted to that brief two game series was addressed rehearsal 544 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,439 Speaker 1: in the suburbs of Chicago. And hopefully we'll be experiencing 545 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: far more pleasant weather when we get to playing baseball 546 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: just a couple of days from now, and that'll be 547 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: out in Kane County, So hopefully we'll be having you 548 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: with us and on the broadcast. This is where we 549 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: shamelessly plug the broadcast, which for all Lumberkings games will 550 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: be on one hundred point three FMWCCI. For those of 551 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: you who are out of the broadcast range, you can 552 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 1: always tune in online at Lumberkings dot com thanks to 553 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 1: the fine folks at stream Guys who put up the 554 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: broadcast and the makes them all real simulcast so you 555 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 1: can listen to them both on radio and on the 556 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: internet side of things. With yours truly, Ericos will be 557 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: on the call a one man band operation here in Clinton, 558 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: so that is a familiar voice that you're hearing now 559 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 1: will also be the case on the opener come Thursday 560 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,959 Speaker 1: in Kane County. We are touching on some of the 561 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: top players and prospects and names that are coming out 562 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: here for the twenty nineteenth season, and we were fortunate 563 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: enough to already get the opening day starter and that 564 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: was listed as Chris Vallamont, who is likely to take 565 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: the ball on Thursday. 566 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 2: Now. 567 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 1: Mike Jacobs of course will have to change things if 568 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: that's the case, if anything were to arise, but tentatively 569 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: for Game two, which will also be out in Kane 570 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: County against the Cougars the day game. In fact, that 571 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:32,719 Speaker 1: looks like it'll be a Josh Robertson start that Jacobs 572 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: had touched on briefly, and Robertson he's coming off a 573 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: phenomenal year. We really didn't touch on it a whole 574 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: lot in talking to Mike, but his time in the 575 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: GCL with the Marlins, that's the Gulf Coast League again, Cray. 576 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: It was hard to find sometimes it was so small, 577 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: one point six, five and three record, and that was 578 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: not a limited sample size either forty two and a 579 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: third indeds of work. Eventually would get called up later 580 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: in the year to Batavia and have his final two 581 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: appearances of the year with Mike Jacobs as his manager 582 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: with the muck Doogs. He was one in one in 583 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: those two starts, a even three point zero zero earned 584 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: an average. Roberson likely to take the start in Game two. 585 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: Other than that is a little bit up in the air, 586 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: will likely be hammered it out, but perhaps some content 587 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: for our next episode, which will be a week from today, 588 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: will be rather on Wednesday. We'll be doing this weekly, 589 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: So next Wednesday, circle of your calendars for episode two 590 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 1: of A Ball with eric Os, we'll have a lumber 591 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:36,360 Speaker 1: Kings prospect, a Marlins prospect that'll be joining us on 592 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: the podcast, and we'll get into the way the clubhouse 593 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 1: dynamics are starting to unfold, and we'll also have some 594 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: games under our belt then and some content to talk 595 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: to you about and hopefully a strong start to the 596 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: season for the lumber Kings as a look to return 597 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: to the postseason for the first time since two thousand 598 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 1: and sixteen. It is always very exciting opening days, whether 599 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: it's the major leagues and of course here at the 600 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: minor league level, and as we've said on more than 601 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: one occasion to the fans around the ballpark here, the 602 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: world will make sense again at the minor league level 603 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: when they start playing again on Thursday. The home opener 604 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: will be on Saturday night. For those interested in coming 605 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: out to Clinton if you can. We're always excited to 606 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: see more faces at the historic lumber King Stadium built 607 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 1: all the way back at nineteen thirty seven, so it 608 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: is going to be an old park that is going 609 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: to feature some of the new names in the Marlins 610 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: organization on a rebuild, with a lot of talent on 611 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: this roster and lots of reasons to be excited and 612 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: lots of reasons to tune in come Thursday. That will 613 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: do it for episode one of A Ball Here with 614 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: Eric Ohs. This is eric O signing off. Thanks again 615 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: everyone for listening and to our guest Mike Jacobs for 616 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: taking the time to talk with us. Hopefully we'll see 617 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: you back here on the podcast side of things a 618 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: week from now.