1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: Boom. If you've thought more hours a day, minutes a 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: week was enough, think again. He's the last remnants of 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: the old republic a sole fashion of fairness. He treats 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: crackheads in the ghetto cutter the same as the rich 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: pill poppers in the penthouse, to clearinghouse of hot takes, 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: break free for something special. The Fifth Hour with Ben 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: Maller starts right now. That it does. We are in 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: the air everywhere. The weekend is underway. This a spinoff 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: of the Ben Mother Show overnights during the week. We 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: actually get to talk to people on the weekends because 11 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: it's a it's a it's a podcast you can hang 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: out and it's a conversation podcast. We chat with friends 13 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: of the show and people that we know, people that 14 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: we like, and we do this eight days a week 15 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: because obviously four hours a night on the overnight are 16 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: not enough. We thank you for downloading, some scribing and 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: obviously listening what you're doing right now, David gascon yet 18 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: again back this week good unfortually very years like there. 19 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: So it's nice salvation, I guess it's it's nice. Isn't 20 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: it so wonderful that you get to drop inside the 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: Magic Radio Box and on your podcasts, you have a 22 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: world class colleague that not only books guests, but presidents 23 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: and CEOs and doctors and lawyers. I give you the 24 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: Rose Royce of guests. You know well from your Money 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: through Friday show. Take a little bit of advantage of 26 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: the fact that there's some people that I know that 27 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: actually went on and became very successful. Not that I have, 28 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: but these people have become very successful. So you've taken 29 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: advantage of that. And I'd like to let the court 30 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: record report show that I I actually know several of 31 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: these individuals that we've had on in recent days and 32 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: times and years. Now it's going on what two years 33 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: now with this stupid little podcast. Yes, and you wanted 34 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: to cancel the podcast after a month, I think you, well, 35 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,679 Speaker 1: I think it's just tradition over the last couple of 36 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: years we cancel everything, so I cancel this. Well, let's 37 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: not waste time. This is very important. This man. We 38 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: actually have one of the longest tenured CEOs in Major 39 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: League Baseball, the guy who runs the show for the 40 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: Arizona Diamondbacks. He's been doing it for over fifteen years. 41 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: His name is Derek Hall. Now Derek Hall has a 42 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: very interesting story that's somewhat connected to me a little 43 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: bit now. He was he was when I first met Derek. 44 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: He was in the PR office for the Los Angeles 45 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 1: Dodgers in the early nineties, and he rose up the 46 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: ranks with the Dodgers and then left. He left the 47 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: Dodgers and got into sports talk radio at a station 48 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 1: I were that he was the morning guy. I was 49 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: doing the midday show at Extra Sports eleven fifty in 50 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, which no longer exists, and he also did 51 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: the Dodger pregame stuff. I was doing Dodger postgame at 52 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: the time, and so we we were around each other 53 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: quite a bit in those days. And Derek he had 54 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: left that He'd done TV in l A as well. 55 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: He left that and then went into private business briefly 56 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,679 Speaker 1: and then ended up as the executive with the years 57 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: on the Diamondbacks. And he's been running that team for many, 58 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: many years, as we pointed out, And so we're excited 59 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: to have Derek call on the fifth Hour with Ben 60 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: Maller and David Gascon and so Derek, why don't we 61 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: start with this? Is there ever a day that you 62 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: do not regret leaving the lavish lifestyle of sports talk 63 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: radio to become a CEO in professional baseball. Fox Sports 64 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: Radio has the best sports talk line up in the nation. 65 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot 66 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app. Search f 67 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. Right, you know, Ben, I 68 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: had a lot of fun, But I think if I 69 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: had stuck to media or or a personality on radio, 70 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: I'd probably be unemployed because I wasn't very good at it. 71 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: So it's good to leave it up the pros lift 72 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: yourself well. And I mean you did it for a 73 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: few years. Obviously you started in baseball and then you 74 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: went into sports radio. And I don't think I've told you. 75 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: I don't think there's ever been a transformation like that. 76 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: You were on TV in l A and you did 77 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: this sports stuff in the morning and all that, and 78 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: you making us all look bad. What is the secret? 79 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: What is the secret to success here? Well, you got 80 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: a hit and run. You can't stay somewhere too long, right, 81 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: and they figure you out. It was It was a 82 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: lot of fun because I had been with the Dodgers 83 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: for for many years and we had a few ownership changes, 84 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: and then I had the opportunity to go to you know, 85 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: the flagship radio station, UM Morning Show. We had a 86 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: ton of fun. We had a blast in the morning show, 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 1: and I out to do as you said, some uh 88 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: some TV. I did some weekend uh sports anchoring so 89 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: in and then I did some pregame shows for the Dodgers, 90 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: both radio, I got to do a few on TV. 91 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: So for me it was great. I still stayed involved 92 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: with sports and with with with the Dodgers, but I 93 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: really missed baseball. So when I had the opportunity to 94 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: go back to the Dodgers and then and then out 95 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: here at Arizona, ultimately it's been it's been a nice 96 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: mix of both worlds. And to know both sides I 97 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: think is important too. Yeah, as gonna say, because I'm 98 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: guessing most of the other CEOs in baseball they have 99 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: not lived that life. And none of them have you know, 100 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: both TV and radio from your experience, So when you 101 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: when you see crazy stories on on on in the 102 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: on the internet and on radio and whatnot in Phoenix 103 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: and around the country, You're like, hey, I kind of 104 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: know wh I know the other side, right, You're familiar 105 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: with it. I do, And I also understand the importance 106 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: of you guys having to do your jobs. You know, 107 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: that's that's really important to know too. I mean too 108 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: often people may may get upset or they have sam skin. 109 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: You can't. I mean you have to know that. You know, 110 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: everyone has a job to do. And you know I 111 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: I did it as well, right sitting in your in 112 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: your chair h for for quite some time. So I 113 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: do think it helps. I definitely think it helps. But 114 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: I think most of the folks in my jobs have 115 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 1: been they may not have gone up with the ranks 116 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: either in media or or on the pr communication side. 117 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: Most of them have either been the legal side or 118 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: accounting side. Some actually did a few actually did some 119 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: play by play, but for the most part, no, no 120 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: one's had the luxury of being on there as well. 121 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: That's been It was great for me. Yeah. And now 122 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: fun fact here that when you you were doing stuff 123 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: with the Dodges, but when you were named as the 124 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: morning guy at Extra Sports eleven fifty, I think it 125 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: was because like Steve Mason and got to New York, 126 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: somethody they needed, they were looking for someone they and 127 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: you were the guy that they went with John Ireland, 128 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: as I remember and we we were myself and Dave Smith, 129 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: we were on there. We found out about this and 130 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: we talked about it on the air and we got 131 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: in so much trouble, Derek for for spilling the beans 132 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: on that before it was like generally jumped the gun. 133 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: You went out to early on it. Yeah, we were, 134 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: we were like filling in on the morning show and uh, 135 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: and we were like this is interesting, you know because 136 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: we we've both known you and then uh and then 137 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: we talked about it. Oh my, the management, Oh they 138 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: came down. They were very upset with this Terry, but 139 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: we were. We were very happy before you. I do 140 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: recall that. And it was with John Ireland, who's obviously 141 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: a very good friend, and then and then he left 142 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: for a while I was alone, and then it was 143 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: with you know A and then um, you know, there 144 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: was a time where where I was also with Terry Bradshaw. 145 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: He was coming in. He had like the show after me, 146 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: so he and I had this crossover show and yeah, 147 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: he's still I don't think he ever said my name 148 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: right for the few weeks or months that we were 149 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: on together because they didn't know who I was, but 150 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: still doesn't to this day. The guy that you got 151 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: Terry Bradshaws, because I did the show after Terry. The 152 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: benetib Show was after Terry for a little bit. Uh, 153 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: and and Terry did not really want to talk about 154 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: sports very much. It was it was odd. It was 155 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: like he wanted like there was one I love Terry. 156 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: There was one day he came in and just read 157 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: like a Jeff Foxworthy book because he was friends with 158 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: Jeff Foxworthy the comedian back in the day. And uh, 159 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: it was. It was tremendous. But the amazing thing about 160 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: that is that that station there, which you worked out 161 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: for a few years, and now you've obviously gone everyone 162 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: who worked there, almost everyone has gone on and done uh, 163 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: pretty cool things, either still in the media business or elsewhere. 164 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: You with the Diamondbacks, and you know, we had a 165 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: guy that was like a producer, board op intern, guy 166 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 1: that went on to coach Texas college football. Of all. 167 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: I mean, there were a lot of people from that 168 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: that kind of a small sports station that went on 169 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: and did pretty cool things. I can't believe it's been 170 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: that long though. And what what was also great about 171 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: that is, you know it doesn't always happen, but I 172 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 1: think we were a pretty good family. It was like 173 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: everyone got along and you know, still to this day 174 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: we're all good friends and stay in touch. It was 175 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: very unique, you know, for for that setting, for all 176 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: of us to have started something and took pride in 177 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: it and still get along to this day. It was 178 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: very cool. Yeah, absolutely, And now I also must address 179 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: now having you on here today, it's very important. All right. 180 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: So when you were working with the Dodgers in the 181 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: PR department, with the great Jay Lucas, you both more 182 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,599 Speaker 1: lighted as umpires in the media baseball game. Now, this 183 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: was a big event for me. I was morbidly obese 184 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: at the time, but one of my great athletic accomplishments. 185 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: And I don't you probably don't remember because you've got 186 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: much more important things. But I, for some reason, everything 187 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: lined up for me, All the plans lined up, and 188 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: I connected. I was using unfortunately a wooden bat, not 189 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: a metal bat. Uh, And it was like, actually, I 190 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: remember a Corey Snyder bats or nineties six or something, 191 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: but I used a Corey Snyder bat and I hit 192 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: a ball that somehow went off the wall at Dodger Stadium. 193 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: Now you were the umpire and because of my rather large, 194 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: oversized body. I thought the ball was going out, and 195 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: then I of course didn't run, and there was a 196 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: play at second. Now I was clearly safe there. You 197 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: called me out when you admit, now after all these years, 198 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: that if there had been instant replay, I would have 199 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: been safe. You no, no, you you were You were 200 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: out that and you were showboating it. I mean you 201 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 1: were watching it. You thought it was gone, and I 202 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: do remember it like it was yesterday, and I could 203 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: not believe that you wouldn't run the basis. And then 204 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: once you realized that wasn't gone, you tried to high 205 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: tail it and you were out. You were clearly out. 206 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: It was I was safe. I I snuck in there. 207 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, I still can't to this day. I 208 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: had the option member because you guys they brought out 209 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: they had wooden bats and they had metal bats, and 210 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: I was like, well, I'm in the major league ballpark. 211 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna use a wooden bat because I wanna. I wanna, 212 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, be like a big league I do. Hopefully 213 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,199 Speaker 1: if you had used the limitum, it was clearly over 214 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,719 Speaker 1: the wall, it would have been gone. And I think 215 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: you still thought you connected you thought you had it. 216 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: I did. I did. I mean, that's a big you know. 217 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: I I'm used to playing literally fields up until that point, 218 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: but it was pretty cool. Now I have some fun 219 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: memories of those those media games. Do you guys do 220 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: that in Arizona? Do you have some kind of setup 221 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: like that or is that kind of archaic at this point? 222 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: You know it is. It's somewhat our kid, but we 223 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: could do it now. We never did it in the 224 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: past because we were so worried about our grass. Now 225 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: we don't have grass, you know, We've got our our 226 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,599 Speaker 1: synthetic grass, so we probably could bring that back. We 227 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: ended up doing it with some legislators here this year. 228 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: We used to have an owner's clinic where we let 229 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: people play, but the grass just got chewed up. I 230 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: think we should we should bring it here. It is 231 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 1: a fun event and lots of you know, guys like 232 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: to get out there and play, and we're just always 233 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: worried about the injuries. Yeah, I know, especially a long 234 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 1: time well back in those days. Uh, you know, I 235 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: can't believe it's been as long. But remember the late 236 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: great Student Nahan would manage the media game and Stu. 237 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: This was so serious that he would bring in ringers 238 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: to beat the writers. He had. Remember one year he 239 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: had a kid from Long Beach State that was like 240 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: a player at Long Beach State that somehow snuck finagle 241 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: his way way in there and we were trailing late 242 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: and then one of the media games and Stu tried 243 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: to have the guy changed jersey so he could bat again. Uh, 244 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: there was a lot of shenanigans going on. He was. 245 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: I missed Stu a lot. And he actually would try 246 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: and get our BP pictures to go in and face 247 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: you guys. He tried to get players to go in disguise. Um, 248 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: and he would usually because it's with Tommy too, as 249 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: you recall, yes exactly. And I also remember yeah, because yeah, 250 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: Stu felt we had an advantage because there were so 251 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: many former players that were working in the media, so 252 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: he wanted to get there. Yeah. Yeah. He always want 253 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: to get Rick Monday to play. And uh, and then 254 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: you brought Fernando back and that whole thing. But crazy, 255 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: it's all right. So now now you are you are 256 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: the CEO of a major League baseball I've been doing 257 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: this a long time, and congratulations on your success and 258 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: all as we said, but the day to day grind, 259 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: like running the Arizona Diamondbacks. How many fires are you 260 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: putting out on a on a daily basis? There too many, 261 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: that's really these days, you know, with what we're facing. Um. 262 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 1: But but it just depends on what the what that 263 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: fire is for the day because there's so many different 264 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: areas that we're focused on. I never had to them 265 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: in the past when I was there in l A. 266 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: But now, I mean, one day it could be government 267 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: affairs issue. The next day it could be a pr issue, 268 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: the day after that, it could be a community issue. 269 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: There's so much and when you have three and fifty 270 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: full time employees and and uh, you know, it's it's 271 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: a full time organization. Most people wonder, well, what do 272 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: you do in the off season, which we call our 273 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: season without games? As you know, um, but it's NonStop 274 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: and you have a number of people who who wants 275 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: or need your attention, and and uh that I'll tell 276 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: you what. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. 277 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 1: I absolutely love it. But it's stressful, and especially in 278 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: a division like like this one where the Dodgers have 279 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: just dominated you know, us and every team really for 280 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: that matter, for so long. Um, but it's a it's 281 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: a it's a fun division and everything that I learned 282 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers, trying to bring that mentality over here, 283 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 1: having worked large market and now a smaller market and 284 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: having ownership when I first began at the Dodgers, it's 285 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 1: very similar to ownership here where it's a family and um, 286 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of emphasis on culture. It's been 287 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: it's been great. Yeah. And it's been about a year 288 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: since everything went haywire in the world, not just the 289 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: sports world shutting down. You guys were in spring training, Um, 290 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: you know a year ago at this time when the 291 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: news came down that they were shutting everything down. What 292 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: what was that like at the time and nobody knew anything, 293 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: but you were there and you had to make decisions 294 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: and whatnot along with the people of baseball. But what 295 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: what was that experience like a year ago? I remember 296 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: watching when you know, the NBA shut down, and I thought, Wow, 297 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: that is crazier. They're going too far with this thing. 298 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: And I think it was probably two days later because 299 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: that was the eleventh, I believe in on the thirteenth, 300 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: we we shut down and and send everybody home. And 301 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: I thought it was gonna be a couple of weeks. 302 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: I sent a note to all of my staff at 303 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: night saying, hang in there, be safe. We'll see in 304 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: a week or two when we feel like we can 305 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: open back up. You know, it was a year. I mean, 306 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: it was a year that we weren't in the office 307 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: that either Chase Shield or saw River Fields, which is 308 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: where our spring training home is. And uh, it was bizarre. 309 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: And then to have the the abbreviated season like we 310 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: did with no fans and the piped in sound, it 311 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: just was sterile. It wasn't real. And I still can't 312 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: believe what we've gone through. Yet we've learned so much 313 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: from it, and I think, you know, hopefully we never 314 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: encounter anything like this again, but if we do, we're 315 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: all going to be better prepared for it for sure. Yeah, 316 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: there no fan thing. I know fans are gonna be 317 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: coming back now at least a little bit. But you 318 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: know what, you got to go to those games. I mean, 319 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: you were obviously the CEO the team. What was it 320 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: like why I didn't go to any I know in 321 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: the media I could have gone here in l A, 322 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: but I didn't go. What was it like watching the 323 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: Big League game without any any It must have been 324 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: just bizarre, right, It's crazy. It was. That's a that's 325 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: a great, great word. It was bizarre. And I sat 326 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: there for these games and just I didn't enjoy it. 327 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: I mean you could hear, you know, foul balls rattling 328 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: off chairs and uh, you know, you could hear every 329 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: word said in each dugout. It just it didn't feel right. 330 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't right because it's you know, our games are 331 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: made for fans. But I think our our crews and 332 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: our our stabs did a really nice job of trying 333 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: to make it seem like it was normal and like 334 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: it was natural. To make sure that the endgame entertainment 335 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: was still somewhat there, and they're in our case we 336 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: call it dB t V, but your your video board 337 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: was still you know, interactive and engaged, and everything became 338 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: more virtual. It was it was bizarre, but they did 339 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: a nice job making it seem as if nothing was different. 340 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: Is that there were fans there, but you knew better 341 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: when you were there in the in the ballparking. You 342 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: just couldn't wait until the day to get fans back 343 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: through the turnstiles, which fortunately we're going to have this year, Derek, 344 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: I gotta jump into the fray here with what happened 345 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: last year with Major League Baseball of the adjustments to 346 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: some of the rules, and you being around the game 347 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: so long, did you like any of the implementation? You know, runners, 348 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: obviously a doubleheaders things. Did you like any of that? 349 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: That's a great question. And I'm a traditionalist and I'm 350 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: a Nation League guy, so I never liked the d H. 351 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: I don't like to change the game or mess with 352 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: the game. And I have to tell you I liked 353 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: every every experimental rule we had, I really did. I 354 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: like the expanded playoffs, I like the extra hitting rule, 355 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: and I liked the d H. UM. You know, I'm 356 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: surprised that that we don't have one so far for 357 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: this upcoming season, but I actually did, and I know 358 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: that we're going to try some experimental rules when it 359 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: comes to minor league baseball. I believe in triple A. 360 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: I think that's a good thing. You know that if 361 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: we just say we can never change this game, you 362 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: know we're we're we're not being We're not being wise. 363 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I think every sport tends to to look 364 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: at ways to improve their sport. And ways to protect 365 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: their players from injury. And if all that can be 366 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 1: done in a way that's going to speed it up, 367 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 1: create more interest, more interaction, uh, and more of a following, 368 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: we should do it. And I think I think they 369 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: worked pretty well. But do you think the game is 370 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: better because it feels like from from a certain standpoint 371 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: that in any league, whether it's Major League Baseball, the 372 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: n b A, NHL, and maybe a little bit in 373 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: the NFL, but everyone's drunk on saber metric launch angles, 374 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: eggs of velocity as opposed to making contact and going 375 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: the opposite way. No, No, that's and that's different, and 376 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: I think we'll address that, you know, whether it's uh, 377 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: if we're going to address the shifts, or we're gonna 378 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: address you know, the way the baseball has made or 379 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: the dimensions of the ballpark, all of that does need 380 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,959 Speaker 1: to be looked at because I think our fans, if 381 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: it's just strikeout a home run, you're exactly right, not 382 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: as um not as good as as more action in 383 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: the game. And I think all that will be looked 384 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: at because we do want more people following the game, 385 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: more people excited about the game, and more you know, 386 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: youngsters that are able to play the game and for 387 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: a longer period of time. Now day, the samer metrics thing, 388 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: this is fascinating because it seems like everyone in baseball 389 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: is doing it to one degree or another. But is 390 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: it possible? And you're the perfect guy ask because you 391 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: run a baseball team, is it possible if you had 392 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: a team approached things old school too? You know, you 393 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: don't come leately forget about saber metrics, but you you 394 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: choke up with two strikes and you you know, hit 395 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: behind the runner, the things, some of the small stuff. Yeah, 396 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: maybe occasionally bunt. You know, is it possible that by 397 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: playing the what many would say is an outdated style 398 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: of baseball that you would actually have some kind of 399 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: advantage as opposed to the team's many of them today 400 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: they just try to go up and it's like Beer 401 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: League softball. You're trying to hit home runs and all that. 402 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: I wonder if it what do you think? Do you 403 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: think that a team that plays the old school approach 404 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: could actually have success in the modern baseball world. You 405 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: could definitely make an argument for that, which is why 406 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: ben people say that there should be a balance and 407 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: and I know it sounds like, you know a lot 408 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: of a lot of words, but it's true. You really 409 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: need to balance it out. And I can tell there's 410 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: now more of an embrace from the old school guys 411 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,719 Speaker 1: that are sitting in the room or the old school Scouts. 412 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: They embrace more of the analytics now and they they 413 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: intertwine it in their work. And by first thing, you 414 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: hear these individuals that are maybe shout of college and 415 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: that are so into the analytics, but they're listening and 416 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: learning and embracing what you know. The Scouts are treating 417 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: or teaching them as well, and some of the older 418 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: instructors and coaches. I think you have to have a balance, 419 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: and I can tell you, um, you know, I'm not 420 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: as much into the analytics, and that's why we hire 421 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: people to do so. And we have an entire department, 422 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: which we never had when I first came here. Um. 423 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: In fact, you know, when I left the Doctors, we 424 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: really didn't have an analytics department either. But now you 425 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: have to and it's got to be a part of 426 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: your game. And you know, I think instincts take over 427 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: and and so you know, style takes over at some point. 428 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: I sit there like you probably and with the question 429 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: alone and the way we were taught how to play 430 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: baseball and the way we grew up playing baseball, I'll 431 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: sit there saying, why are we not? Why are we 432 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: not bumming right here? Right? I mean, it's it's it 433 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: seems like common sense to me because that's why I 434 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: came up through the game. But enough people will tell you, no, 435 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: you don't here, and here's why they think differently, And 436 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: it's fun to have those debates, and it's to here 437 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: why not? But I think there needs to be a balance, 438 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: and I think we have enough people in every organization 439 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: now that that do balance it out. The days of 440 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,959 Speaker 1: either one way or the other, I don't think we're 441 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: seeing that really anymore, Derrek. Do you think it hinders 442 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: major League Baseball with a little bit of the stripping 443 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: from the minor league clubs just because of where we 444 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: were to where we are now? Do you think that 445 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: hinders the game and the sport as a whole with 446 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: with the consolidation? Um? I think you know. I think 447 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: what they're what the attempt was is right. Um, when 448 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: we looked at the quality of ballparks, of the travel involved, 449 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: the number of players that never made it I think 450 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,360 Speaker 1: the intentions are right on. It's trying to make sure 451 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 1: that there certain levels of quality that we expect that 452 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: each of the ballparks now where our players are going 453 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,959 Speaker 1: off to when it comes to an affiliate. In addition 454 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: to that, you want to make sure that these players 455 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: that that inner professional baseball actually have a chance to 456 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: make it to the big leagues and that they're not 457 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 1: just spending so much time, you know, in buses on 458 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: airplanes with their travel. So for all those reasons that 459 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 1: they did that, I'm you know, I agree with that, 460 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: I really do. And um it's I'm excited because we've 461 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: got so many affiliates now close to close to us. 462 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: We didn't have a an affiliate in Texas before, which 463 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: we do now and and with you know, Hillsborough and 464 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: Baselia and Reno, it makes a lot of sense for 465 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: us to have have those teams so close now, Derek, 466 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: I do need to give you the heads up since 467 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: you mentioned Vicelia. UM, I'm gonna put it on the 468 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: record here for you. Ben Maller did direct me back 469 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: in two thousand and sixteen to leave to leave Fox 470 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: Sports Radio and joined the Bakersfield Blaze. So I worked 471 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: in High a affiliate ball there for a year, and 472 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: I invited him and his entire lame show out for 473 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: a night of the ballpark and and and Derek, hand 474 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 1: to god, he throughout the first pitch, and then a 475 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: month later Bakersfield Blaze were closed down. He closed down 476 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: a minor league ball club that was in existence for 477 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: sixty five years. Yeah, we're putting We're putting it on 478 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: bed Dave. That's good. Did he throw a strike though 479 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: he locked it in. I don't know if it would 480 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: have gotten to the place. I was a lollipop. It 481 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: was a lollipop itch. But that's a strike there, because 482 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: you know that can be a strike. You can throw 483 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: a high Yeah, it's all about location, not velocity. I 484 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: found that my you know, year, year and a half, 485 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: two years in minor league baseball is huge for me. 486 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 1: So I'm sure you had the same experience, but but 487 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: for me to get to know each and every fan 488 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: and and do everything from you know, pulling the tarp 489 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: when it rains, the stock in the shelves, to you know, 490 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: doing the promotions. I had a blast in minor league baseball. 491 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: And I tell a lot of young um students who 492 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: are asking for advice that it's not such a bad 493 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,239 Speaker 1: direction to go to to get started in a minor 494 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: league baseball. Now, when you shut down a franchise, that's 495 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: not good. And I will put that on Mallard too, Yes, clearly. Uh, 496 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: well I gotta also, I mean there you talking about 497 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: you know, minor league baseball, all that you worked at 498 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: that world. But one thing about you that and you 499 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: still and you've done it in Arizona. I've read stories 500 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: and people have talked and told me things with the 501 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: fans like, you're so good about that. So many of 502 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: these CEOs just want nothing to do as far as 503 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 1: the interaction, but you make it a priority. And it's 504 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: so smart because my experience with listeners, I don't it's 505 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: obviously not the same thing. But people that are upset 506 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: something I say, normally, if you just respond to them, 507 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: they're kind of are happy about it and they're willing to, 508 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: you know, calm down a little bit. But what's it 509 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: been like in relation you you make it a priority 510 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: to interact with the Diamondback fans and and uh and 511 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 1: how's that going for you? That's yeah, you said a 512 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: couple of things that really resonated. First Off, when I 513 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: was on radio and we were just starting to get 514 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: you know, email back then. And after after the morning show, 515 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: I would go home and I would just get blistered 516 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: by by some fans and and it it It hurt, right, 517 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: And so I decided I was going to respond to 518 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: each and every one of them, and I would write 519 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: them back and tell them, you know, with the reasoning 520 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: for what I said. And and I think you're exactly right. 521 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: My experience, as I recall, was they just wanted to 522 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: hear it, and you responded, they felt great, they became 523 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: a fan of the show. Uh And and you started 524 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: talking with those folks, you had a relationship. It's no 525 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: different with the fans. And for us, it's every fan counts. 526 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not as if we could just open 527 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: up our gates and get two to three million fans 528 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 1: every year. We gotta work hard in the market like this. 529 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: So it's it's one fan at a time, and we 530 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: answer every email, every voicemail, every text, um, you know, 531 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: and that that relationship is important. So I I do 532 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 1: communicate regularly with with fans. I have chats once a 533 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: month with the fans, um, you know, just walking around 534 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: talking to them, hearing what's important to them having roundtables 535 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: and town halls. That's really vital, and especially in a 536 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: market like this where we we have to hold on 537 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: to every single fan we get. We have to earn everyone. Yeah, absolutely, 538 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 1: and uh and Derek, just before we we wrap up here, 539 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,959 Speaker 1: I mean, you guys didn't have a very active offseason. 540 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 1: But people listening that found this podcast that are curious 541 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: and what are the reasons to be optimistic for the 542 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: one Arizona Diamondbacks. Well, yeah, as far as active, you know, 543 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 1: the Dodgers were extremely active. The Padres were active obviously, 544 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: and so we've been asked, you know, why weren't we 545 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: so so active? We really were the last couple of 546 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 1: years before that, and we felt like we had the 547 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: team in place that that we thought was going to 548 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: compete and perform um. You know, take last year out. 549 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: It was. It was an awful season for us. We 550 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: did not play well, We had a lot of injuries. 551 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: We moved a couple of players at the trade deadline, 552 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 1: but for the most part, that team is still there. 553 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 1: So for us to fill a few holes this offseason, 554 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: but try and keep that team together and see if 555 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: they can compete. Maybe we put the wrong team together. 556 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: But we'll see, you know, hopefully in a hundred and 557 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: sixty two games season. But but for us to compete 558 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 1: more consistently and sustain a model of success, we're going 559 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: to have to do it a different way, the right way. 560 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 1: We can't compete necessarily in the free agent market. We're 561 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: going to have to scout, properly, develop those players, retain 562 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 1: them through arbitration years in some of their early free 563 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,360 Speaker 1: agency years, and make sure that we have a pipeline 564 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: of talent in our farm system ready to So we've 565 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: taken our farm system from the top three or bottom three, 566 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: absolutely worst in baseball to the top five now in baseball. 567 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: That's who we need to be. And I would just 568 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: tell you know, fans or people interested in baseball to 569 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: hopefully watch a team here that's going to compete. For 570 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: us to have been in the playoffs in oh seven, 571 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven, two thousand seventeen, way too sporadic, too 572 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: many years of not getting there in between. Well, Derek, 573 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 1: thanks for coming on, ma and I look forward to 574 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 1: the day of the Diamondbacks when the World Series with 575 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 1: you as the CEO. So I can more, I can 576 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: brag more about you, Derek and I. That'd be great. 577 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: I brag about I brag about you guys as well, 578 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: and uh, I look forward to seeing you. Thanks for 579 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 1: having me on I would love to do it in person. 580 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 1: Sometimes too, I miss you. Fox Sports Radio has the 581 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of 582 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within 583 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app search f s R to 584 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: listen live.