1 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of Cardinal Territory. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: I'm Jim Hayes, and today we have a special guest, 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: Matt Adams, you know him as Big City Matt. We 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: get to you in just a minute, but on this show, 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: we always start with a pitch, and that pitch is 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: if you like Cardinal Territory, we'd like you to subscribe. 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: So we want to get to our goal of seven thousand. 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: We want to grow the program, So go ahead and 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: reach out and hit that subscribe button. 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: Now for Big City. Hi, Matt, how are you and 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 2: how you doing? Doing good? 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 3: Jim, how you doing? Thanks for having me. 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 2: On doing great? 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: So I wanted to talk about your career, focus on 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: your time with the Cardinals. But let's go over the 16 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: resume then I'm going to just do it off the 17 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: top of my head. Here I might look down, but 18 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: ten years in the Bigs, two stints with the Cardinals, 19 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: two stints with the Braves, and you have a lovely 20 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: World Series ring that you won with the Nationals. So, Matta, 21 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: I'm gonna ask you, when you look back at your career, 22 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: it's not too far removed. You're still a young guy, 23 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: very handsome, by the way, what are the things that 24 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: stands out? Please say Curshew, please say Kurshel. But what 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: things stand up. 26 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 4: Definitely the Kershaw Homer and you know, the twenty fourteen 27 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 4: playoffs that I feel like that moment really solidified myself 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 4: in you know, Cardinal history, made a name for myself 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 4: at the major league level. 30 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: Seeing the highlights, you know, running running on the show right. 31 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 4: Now, fifty thousand plus in Bush, going crazy. I feel 32 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 4: like my feet did hit the dirt all the way 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 4: rounding the bases and then celebrating with my teammates and stuff. 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 3: Once I touched Home played, you know, seeming. 35 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 4: Into witskoe crazy like to be able to do that 36 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 4: at home Game four. 37 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 3: We knew that we needed to. 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: Win that game. 39 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 4: We did not want to go back to Doctor Stadium 40 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 4: for Game five. So so that moment for sure, But 41 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 4: you know, I would say more than that, probably just 42 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,239 Speaker 4: all the moments hang out, you know, my teammates and 43 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 4: stuff in the clubhouse like that. That's what I missed 44 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 4: the most is sharing sharing that clubhouse with a lot 45 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 4: of great dudes and you know, talking shop, talking to game, 46 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 4: getting to know everybody. 47 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 3: That's what I missed the most, you know, the Kershaw thing. 48 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: If I had done something like that, which I've done nothing, 49 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: but I would go back, say on a random Tuesday afternoon, 50 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: lounging around in my sweatpants and socks or whatever, I 51 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: would pop that video in or call it up on 52 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: my phone just to remind myself of that. Do you 53 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: ever do that just randomly? Let's take another look at that. 54 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. 55 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 4: I used it a lot in moments whenever I was, 56 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 4: you know, kind of struggling, going through a little bit 57 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 4: of a slump in one of those you know, down periods. Offensively, 58 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 4: I'll pull that clip up, uh, and it just takes 59 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 4: me back to that time, that moment. You know, I'm 60 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 4: getting chills right now thinking about it. But uh, yeah, 61 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 4: I used it. I used it a lot, you know, 62 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 4: pulling it up I had. You know, I played in 63 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 4: Mexico in twenty twenty four. All my teammates they wanted 64 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 4: me to pull it up every day. Those guys wanted 65 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 4: to watch it and just see the seeing the crowd 66 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 4: going crazy, seeing the homer off Kershaw. So yeah, I 67 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 4: definitely used it more than what I would would have 68 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 4: imagined that I would have used during my playing career 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 4: for sure, And. 70 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: Of course we really start the program by showing that 71 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: because it's a great, a great moment, and as I recall, 72 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: it led to a little controversy this past season in June. 73 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm sure you remember this or read about it. So 74 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: Kershaw was warming up to start against the Cardinals in 75 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: Saint Louis and the Cardinals are showing that on the 76 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: jumbo tron as they should, you know why because Cardinal 77 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: fans love you love that moment. And apparently Kershaw didn't 78 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: like that very much. He said, it's not surprising from 79 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: those guys. He called it bush Lee. How did you 80 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: find out about it? And love were your thoughts on that? Yeah, 81 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: I was coaching. 82 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,799 Speaker 4: I was a Tripoi bench coach for the Padres organization 83 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 4: as Pastures, so we were you know, I got out 84 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 4: the field and I had all these I think I 85 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 4: had one hundred and twelve or one hundred and fifteen 86 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 4: text messages from friends, family, ex teammates with showed me 87 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 4: the clip of the jumbo tron, you know, having that 88 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 4: moment being played. So I was like, what's going on 89 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 4: in that? You know, hopped on X and started reading 90 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 4: all about it, and I was I was. I was 91 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 4: kind of shocked that he he made those comments, but 92 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 4: you know, he's a he's a competitor. He you know, 93 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 4: he didn't really take kindly too. But from what I remember, 94 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 4: I think he went out there and I think he 95 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 4: had a pretty good start. So I don't know if 96 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 4: that I think that may have backfired a little bit 97 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 4: for the Cardinals, But yeah, I think I think it 98 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 4: was cool. I think the fans loved it. You know, 99 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 4: I had a lot of a lot of people reaching 100 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 4: out to me saying that that, you know, they remember 101 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 4: at that moment where they were in time. A lot 102 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 4: of people were at the game, so it was cool 103 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 4: to kind of reminiss and go back to that that 104 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 4: period of time. 105 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: You know, inside baseball here. 106 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if you remember Phil the shooter, our 107 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: guy Phil, camera guy, yep, very good guy. Anyway, he 108 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: was around Kershaw after that, went on the Jumbo Tron 109 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: and was shooting him through the nett and Kershaw did 110 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: throw a ball at Phil and I didn't know at 111 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: all he threw a ball and our guy Phil. And 112 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: for the record, I think everyone knows Kerkshaw is a 113 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: really good guy. And like you said, competitor trying to 114 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: get locked in. So I get that. So when you 115 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: think about your your cardinal career and ten years in 116 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: the big leagues, pretty great. Who were the guys that 117 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: helped shape you and helped develop you that you played 118 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: with when you were just getting started with the with 119 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals. 120 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 121 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 4: Uh, two of the guys are on the on the 122 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 4: cards coaching staff right now, John Jay and Daniels Scazzo. 123 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 3: David Freeze was another one, Tony Cruz. 124 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 4: Those those were the kind of the guys that kind 125 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 4: of took me under their wing, kind of you know, 126 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 4: showed me what it was like to be a true 127 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 4: professional on and off the field in the clubhouse, in 128 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 4: the community, and then you know, how to prepare on 129 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 4: a nightly basis to go out there and and and 130 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 4: do what was asked of myself. But uh, two of 131 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 4: the guys I know kat that that are post on 132 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 4: this show, Matt Holliday and Lance Lynn. They I think 133 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 4: they were two great veterans that kind of, you know, 134 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 4: helped me along my path not only in my cardinal career, 135 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 4: but also some of the stuff that they talked about 136 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 4: in the clubhouse I carried with me, uh through my 137 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 4: whole playing career, and then you know, as a coach now, 138 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 4: I wanted to, you know, give back to the guys 139 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 4: that I coached to kind of help them along the way. 140 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 3: Just I think the Cardinals do such a great. 141 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 4: Job of doing their homework when they when they draft guys, 142 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 4: whether they signed guys free agent wise, we just we 143 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 4: do such a good job of, you know, making sure 144 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 4: that that environment inside that clubhouse is great. It's a 145 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 4: family atmosphere and and everybody gets what they need to 146 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 4: do to go out there and perform at a high 147 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 4: level at night in and night out. 148 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: If we're being honest though, and you're a large guy, 149 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: you're a big city, an imposing figure. You you were 150 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: terrified mat Holiday, I. 151 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: Know you were. 152 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, he's he's also a big human. 153 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 3: He you know, he's he's jacked out of his mind. 154 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 4: He's super strong, and he doesn't show a lot of emotions, 155 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 4: so like you never really knew if he was upset 156 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 4: or if he was in a good mood. 157 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 3: He's just he was laser focused and locked in. 158 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 4: And you know, but he's a great dude, great human, 159 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 4: and you know, he helped everybody out in that clubhouse 160 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 4: and and just gave a great advice and you know 161 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 4: it was always was always willing to help me out 162 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 4: whenever I had a question or whatnot. So it's it's 163 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 4: awesome to you know, now see his two sons be 164 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 4: able to you know, do it at the highest level 165 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 4: and just really really good family and really happy to 166 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 4: to be able to call him a friend and then 167 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 4: be able to share a clubhouse and field with him. 168 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: Good guy. 169 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: But to be honest, again, I like honesty. There were 170 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: times where like between you and Gritchard, I'd say, hey, 171 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: can I grab a quick sound bay from You'd say, 172 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: can you wait till later? 173 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: I don't want holidays. 174 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 5: Early on I did not like I didn't I didn't 175 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 5: want to get ragged on by the by the older 176 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 5: vetteran guys in the clubhous. So I would always I 177 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 5: remember this to this day, I always asked, you can 178 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 5: we do it outside the clubhous. 179 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 2: We do it in the hallway and kind of away 180 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: from those. 181 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 5: Guys, because I did not want to get I did 182 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:04,719 Speaker 5: not want to get ragged on. 183 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: For sure. 184 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: It was a it was a rough crowd in the club. 185 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: Asked no question about it during those years. So again 186 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: we talked about your ten years and then you retire. 187 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: You signed that one year, one day deal with the 188 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,599 Speaker 1: Cardinals so you can retire a Cardon. You want to 189 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: run with the Nationals, but you live in the Saint 190 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: Louis area. 191 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: Why was it important to you to retire as a Cardon? Yeah? 192 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 2: You know the Cardinals, you know, they took a chance 193 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: on me. 194 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: They drafted me. They allowed me, you know, you know, a. 195 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 4: Kid from small town in central Pennsylvania, to be able 196 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 4: to live out my you know, childhood dream of you know, 197 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 4: playing major League baseball for them. I just I felt like, 198 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 4: you know, I played with the Cardinals the majority of 199 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 4: my ten year career, so I just fell and now 200 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 4: you know, meet my wife here, having a family here 201 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 4: in Saint Louis. I just I felt like it was 202 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 4: just a full circle moment to be able, you know, 203 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 4: you know, signed up one day contract to be able 204 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: to retire Cardinal. 205 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 3: And I honestly didn't really know how Mo and. 206 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 4: The Cardinals would react to me reaching out and asking 207 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 4: if I could do it, but you know, they welcomed 208 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 4: me with open arms and got it done. 209 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 2: And I'm super super grateful for that. 210 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: And obviously they liked you that they brought you back 211 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: after trading you away. So I want to ask you, 212 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: what's it like when you know you're a cardinal and 213 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: then they tell you you're being traded away? 214 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 2: Like, what were the emotions like for that? Yeah? Crazy? 215 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: I was. 216 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 3: I was actually, uh, you know, getting ready. 217 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 4: I think it was an six oh five games, six 218 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 4: thirty five game whatnot. And you know, I was just 219 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 4: getting out of the shower and doing getting ready to 220 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 4: do my pregame room team, throwing my headphones on and whatnot. 221 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 4: I just got through my locker and you know, I 222 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 4: get this tap on my shoulder. Hey, you know, skip 223 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 4: me to see in his office, and you know, a 224 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 4: lot of stuff when rolling through my head. I want 225 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 4: to either get released or or two I'm getting So 226 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 4: I walked in there and whatnot, and you know, sitting down, 227 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 4: Mike's in there and kind of you know, could tell 228 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 4: that he wasn't super comfortable with what he had to 229 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 4: tell me. 230 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: So I knew it wasn't great news. 231 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 4: But you know, they said that, you know, I was 232 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 4: getting traded to Atlanta, and I knew that, you know, 233 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 4: Freddie Freeman had broke his wrists so here and that 234 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 4: I knew that I was gonna get a lot of 235 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 4: playing time, so I was super grateful for that, But 236 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 4: also Saint Louis was all I ever knew up to 237 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 4: that point, so I had to, you know, I packed 238 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 4: my locker and packed my apartment, and I had to 239 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 4: leave all my close friends behind, and that was hard. 240 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 3: I remember it was a Saturday night game. 241 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 4: I was in the lineup Sunday Day game in Atlanta 242 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 4: facing Strasburg. Went over five to four strikeouts, and and 243 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 4: you know, and I'm you know, you can't you say 244 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 4: you like, honestly, I'm just I'm gonna be honest. 245 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 2: I went back to my. 246 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 4: Hotel room and I cried because I was like, I'm 247 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 4: such a failure. I wasn't happy about getting traded away 248 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 4: from Saint Louis. I'm you know, I show up my 249 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 4: first impression, I go oh for five with four strikeouts. 250 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: I'm like, this is not gonna be great. But uh, 251 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 3: looking back. 252 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 4: On it, who it ended up being one of my 253 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 4: better careers at the big league levels. So super grateful 254 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 4: that they, you know, they found a spot for me 255 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 4: and then you know, trade me away to get some 256 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 4: everyday playing time, which which prolonged my playing for it, 257 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 4: which super super grateful for but uh it was hard, 258 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 4: you know, leaving uh some close friends and uh the 259 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 4: fan basically the Cardinals behind. But I ended up coming 260 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 4: back and uh making it home and and and whatnot. 261 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: So it's it turned out just fine. 262 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: I remember when they traded you back to the Cardinals, 263 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: I think the team was in LA. I walked into 264 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: the clubhouse a little early, and you were like the 265 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: first guy saw with your jersey up there. What was 266 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: that moment like for you finding out you were coming 267 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: back to the place that you really loved to play in. 268 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was, uh it was wild walking, you know. 269 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 4: And and that's a that's another full sort of moment 270 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 4: because I made my debut and in twenty twelve in 271 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 4: Dodger Stadium Sunday Night Baseball. And then in eighteen I 272 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 4: got traded back there, and we're in Dodger Stadium again, 273 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 4: so I, you know, different clubhouse, you know, down on 274 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 4: the main level to the to the dugout field level, 275 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 4: the newer clubhouse. 276 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 2: But I wanted to get there earlier. 277 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 4: I wanted to get settled in, and I wanted to 278 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 4: you know, just take it, you know, like you said, 279 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 4: I looking at my jersey up in my locker and 280 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 4: just kind of sat down looked at that and I 281 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 4: just took a deep breath and I was like, man, 282 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 4: I'm home. 283 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 3: And that was that was a great feeling. 284 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 4: And then not too long later, Kart comes running around 285 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: the corner from the food room with a salsa because 286 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 4: that was like the big thing going on that year 287 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 4: was was his salsa thing, and that was what got 288 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 4: the team hot. But you know, I was super super 289 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 4: happy to be back with that group of guys and 290 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 4: put that you know, jersey back on my chest. 291 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: Cool I for whatever reason. I mean, you're a nice guy. 292 00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: I had a nice career in Saint Louis, but the 293 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: fans really took to you. First of all, you had 294 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: the great nickname, always nice to everyone and a good player. 295 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: But when you came back as a visiting player and 296 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: you get the standing Oh, and then when you were retired, 297 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: you just were in the stands with your wife and 298 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: you get a standing. 299 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 2: Oh. 300 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: Why do you think you have that kind of relationship 301 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: with with the fans in Saint Louis. 302 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 4: Well, I think it's just you know, I'm a big 303 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 4: people person. I love, uh you know, I love pleasing others. 304 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 2: I love. 305 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 3: You know, those guys, the fans. 306 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 4: They spend their hard earned money to come watch us 307 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 4: play and play a kid's game at that And I 308 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 4: always wanted to make sure that I took time with everybody. 309 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 3: And you know, that was something that I was raised on. 310 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 4: My parents did such a good job of, you know, 311 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 4: raising me that way, and I wanted to, you know, 312 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 4: make sure that I never changed if I did ever 313 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 4: make it to. 314 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 3: The major league level. I never wanted to change who 315 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: I was. 316 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 4: And I really held that close to my heart and 317 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,119 Speaker 4: thankful that I did that, because you know, my reputation, 318 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 4: uh speaks of wonders throughout the game of baseball, but 319 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 4: but off the field as well. I I just think 320 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 4: I'm I'm respectful and and I go about it the 321 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 4: right way. And and you know that's I think that 322 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 4: hit home here with a lot of the the fans 323 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 4: here in Saint Louis, and you know, they're they're just 324 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 4: they're great people. They're they they understand the game of baseball, 325 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 4: which you know, as players, we love whether you're visiting 326 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 4: player home player, you make a great play, do something 327 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 4: cool with that, you know, offensively they're going to give you, 328 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 4: you know, standing out and and make you know that 329 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 4: that they appreciate your hard work and and your effort. 330 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: And that's that, you know. 331 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: Ultimately, I just I love the fan base. 332 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 2: I love you know. 333 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 4: My wife and I will be walking our dogs, uh 334 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 4: you know, around town and we'll get stopped and people 335 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 4: just want to talk about carting baseball, which is awesome. 336 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: It's it's just. 337 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 4: It's a great place to live and and and the 338 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 4: fans just are are amazing. So uh, I just I 339 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 4: just love it. And yeah, just super respectful and I 340 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 4: think they gave it right back to you. 341 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: Fans in Saint Louis are great, There's no question about that. 342 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: So last year you were coaching in the Padre system 343 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: triple A coach, bench coach with the Chihuahuas. So what 344 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: are you up to now? What are you looking to do? 345 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: What do you think the next act for Big City 346 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: might be? 347 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, looking to looking to get back here 348 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 4: with the Cardinals organization. You know that, like like you said, 349 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 4: this this is you know where the majority I spent 350 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 4: my career at. 351 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 3: I want to be a cardinal. That's why I retired 352 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 3: a cardinal. 353 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 4: I want to get back to the organization and you know, 354 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 4: hopefully uh, you know, some materialize. It has got some 355 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 4: uh some things in the works, but we'll see, we'll 356 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 4: see how that shakes out these next few weeks. But 357 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 4: uh yeah, really I want to stay involved in the game. 358 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 4: You know, I want to. 359 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 3: I want to coach, I want to you know scout. 360 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 4: I just I want to do whatever I can to 361 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 4: have a positive impact on the game of baseball. And 362 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 4: I love for that to be here in Saint Louis 363 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 4: with the Cardinals and dipping my toe in the media stuff, 364 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 4: you know, helping you out doing the podcast. 365 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: Uh you know, I did Hot Take. 366 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 4: Central two point Oho with you and Cam Jansen and 367 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 4: and you know now doing. 368 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 3: The Cardinal Territory. Uh really enjoy, you know. 369 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 4: Jumping in front of the camera, especially when you got 370 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 4: good people that do it as well and just talk 371 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 4: to game of baseball. It's it's something that I love. 372 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 4: It's I got a strong passion for it. So I 373 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 4: have an open mind. 374 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 2: I want to. 375 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 4: I want to do as much as I can to 376 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 4: you know, promote the game of baseball, especially here in 377 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 4: the Saint Louis area. So we'll see, uh see where 378 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 4: that next chapter leads, but hopefully it's uh staying close 379 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 4: to home and and and as a Cardinal. 380 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: And they're good at the media stuff too. I think folks, 381 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: folks watching will enjoy this segment. I want to ask 382 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: you about the Cardinals, but I just want to touch 383 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: on the coaching thing one more time. So what did 384 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: you enjoy about coaching? Because you struck me as a 385 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: very patient guy. I know you were always eager to 386 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: help other guys out in the clubhouse. 387 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: What did you like about coaching in Triple A? 388 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 4: I loved like obviously, you know, I retired to twenty 389 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,959 Speaker 4: four and then jumped straight into coaching at the at 390 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 4: the highest minor league level, you know, one step away 391 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 4: from from the major. 392 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 3: So I feel like I was super relatable to those guys. 393 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 4: We had an Order Order Club, Order Trip Away Club 394 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 4: this past year with the choilists, so it was it 395 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 4: was really cool. Guys would lean on me in the 396 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 4: cage and their pregame work. They'd come up to me 397 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 4: during the game. I coached first base, uh so it 398 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 4: was just the help of the infield. So guys really 399 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 4: leaned on me. They wanted to know, you know what 400 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 4: I saw picture wise, approach wise defensively if they're you know, 401 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 4: if their first step was a little bit off. They 402 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 4: really trusted my eye and they really trusted what I 403 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 4: had to tell them. So I'm really didn'toid just diving 404 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 4: in hording into those players and helping them in any 405 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 4: way possible. But uh, just I think the main thing 406 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 4: was just being able to relate to them, understanding that, 407 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 4: you know, we had some guys that were up and 408 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 4: down guys, which was hard, some guys that were knocking 409 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 4: on the doorstep to make their debut. But just so 410 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 4: I got it from all all avenues and just really 411 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 4: enjoyed relating to the different players that we had, and 412 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 4: and you know that was that was the really really cool. 413 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 2: Part about it. 414 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: You know what else is cool. We have merchandise available 415 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: on Cardinal Territory. See Matt, here's another pitch. So you 416 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: go to Cardinal Territory shop dot com and we got 417 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,959 Speaker 1: the hoodies, we got the hats, we got the t shirts, 418 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: we got pretty much everything. So if you like Cardinal 419 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 1: Territory and you want to treat yourself, get at one. 420 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: We got everything Cardinal Territory Shop. 421 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: And just so you know, Matt, it took us a 422 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: while to get our free merch that includes like Holiday 423 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 1: and Lancelinn and Kyle Gibson. So if you're expecting something, 424 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: you got a little bit of a way. But I 425 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: did want to circle back to the Cardinals. So when 426 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: you played, they want anything like the rebuilt. Right now, 427 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 1: they're in a rebuilt right that brought in hind Bloom 428 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: has done a wonderful job of stockpiling young talent, and 429 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: now a lot of that young talent is going to 430 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: get a path, as they say, and the Cardinals know 431 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: that this is going to be sort of a developmental year. 432 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,239 Speaker 2: They hope to be competitive. But when you played, there 433 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: were no rebuilds. 434 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: What's your take on what you're seeing from the Cardinals 435 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: right now? 436 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's hard because, like like you said, like I 437 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 4: like I came up and like we like we were 438 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 4: expecting to go deep into the October from day one, 439 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 4: and we did that my first four or five years 440 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 4: with them, we were in the playoffs, competing for a championship. 441 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 4: And and I think the rebuild is is tough, especially 442 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 4: for fans. I know that they're anxious, they're you know, 443 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 4: they're wanting Cardinal Baseball to get back to the way 444 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 4: that Cardinal Bank that they that they're used to seeing, 445 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 4: you know, day in and day out, winning games, winning. 446 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 3: The division, going deep into the playoffs. 447 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 4: And I think they are on their way, you know, 448 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 4: like you said, you touched on it earlier. 449 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: Hin Bloom's doing a wonderful job. 450 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 4: I think what he's what he's done so far, He's 451 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 4: stockpiled the farm system. It's their highest ranking that they've 452 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 4: had in the last fifteen to sixteen years, so that's huge. 453 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,479 Speaker 4: But I think that the team this year, I think 454 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 4: they're gonna surprise them people. I think I think they're 455 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 4: gonna be competitive. I think it all comes down to pitching. 456 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,360 Speaker 4: I think they got the offense, you know, to push 457 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 4: some runs across the plate and to be competitive. But 458 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 4: I think I think the pitching is going to be 459 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 4: the question. Market If these young arms, you know, can 460 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 4: can stay healthy and get the job done, I think 461 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 4: they're gonna be okay. I think, you know another one, 462 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 4: I think bringing in Dustin May Ryan Stanik. I think 463 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 4: bringing in some of these veteran arms, it can kind 464 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 4: of help lead you know, the younger arms, you know, 465 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 4: help them, you know, take care of their arm, take 466 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:19,679 Speaker 4: care of their body, but it takes the to do 467 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 4: it over the course of one hundred and sixty two 468 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 4: game season. I think that's important. And I think the 469 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 4: mesh of the team I think, I think it's gonna 470 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 4: be good. And like I said, I think they're gonna 471 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 4: be I think they're gonna shock some people this year. 472 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: And I agree with you one hundred percent because it 473 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: always comes down to pitching and we'll see how the 474 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: rotation holds up. They have some pieces that might do 475 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 1: very well, so we'll wait and see. But give me 476 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: two names, two of the young guys that you're excited 477 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: to see. 478 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm really I'm really excited to see how jj 479 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:54,360 Speaker 4: whether it performs. You know, I think it's his job 480 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 4: to lose at second base. I think seeing him and 481 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 4: Mason went up the middle spinning plays is going to 482 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 4: be exciting. Electric I think his number is what he 483 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 4: did last year over one hundred and nine games. I 484 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 4: think it speaks wonders to what he can do. You know, 485 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 4: you're just hoping that that translates to the major league level. 486 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 4: So another one is Joshua Bias that I think this 487 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 4: kid's going to be a stud forty six extra base 488 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 4: hits last year five hundred slug almost a four hundred 489 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 4: on base percentage. These two kids do damage when they're 490 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 4: at the point, so I'm excited to see what they do. 491 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 4: Their Their defense is pretty solid. They can both move 492 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 4: pretty well. JJ's going to be a thread on the 493 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 4: base pass. So I'm excited to see how these two 494 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 4: guys how their careers start. But I'm really really excited 495 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 4: to see how the twenty six season goes for these 496 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 4: two young kids. 497 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, Bias is a big kid, sixty three to twenties, 498 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: number four prospect in the organization right now, and he 499 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: did a lot of hour damage and just really a 500 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: double a limited number at bats, So he's got a 501 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: huge upside. And I agree with you about JJ, Like 502 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: I said it on the radio and I'll say it again. 503 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: Like I didn't just think, well, will he make the team. 504 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna. I mean, I think it's clear 505 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: he's making the team. I thought that before they played 506 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: the first spring training game. I honestly think he's gonna 507 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: win National League Rookie of the Year. Now I know 508 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: that's putting the cart before the horse. I just like 509 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: what I've seen and the you know, there's pressure on kids, 510 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: especially if you're the number one prospect like JJ is. 511 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: But he's had that pressure every year in the minors 512 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: being the next big thing, and he's and he's worn beautifully. 513 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: So I just think his I think his talent's gonna 514 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: shine through this year one hundred percent. I think another thing, too, 515 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: is I think he's demeanor. 516 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 4: I think the way he carries himself, I think it's 517 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 4: it's you know, he's well beyond his years, and it 518 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 4: reminds me a lot like obviously this is a a 519 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 4: high comparison, but when Soto got caught up, when iverized 520 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 4: with the Nationalists, the way that he went about his business, 521 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 4: the way he carried himself, you know, just super laser 522 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 4: focus locked in. You knew that the pressure was going 523 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 4: to be there, but you know, he acknowledged it, but 524 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 4: he didn't let that weigh him down. 525 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 3: He you know, he prepared himself at night in and 526 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 3: night out. 527 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 4: And I see that a lot with JJ and just 528 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 4: hearing what you know, some guys are saying around camp 529 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 4: he's carried himself like a big leiguer and and that's 530 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 4: awesome to see some from such a young age and 531 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 4: the number one prospect, so I'm really excited to see 532 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 4: how this year goes for him. 533 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: Matt, I gotta tell you that you're already above the 534 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 1: other major leaguers and are on Cardinal Territory because your 535 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,919 Speaker 1: internet works and you showed up on time and we 536 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: appreciate it, and I just want to say you're a 537 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: great guess. Hopefully we'll get you into the mix on this, 538 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: but I always enjoyed talking to you and and thanks 539 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: for making. 540 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: Some time for us. 541 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Kat, thanks for having me on. 542 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: All right, that's gonna do it for this edition of 543 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: Cardinal Territory. We'll see you next time for the next episode, 544 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: and hopefully that one won't suck. 545 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 5: H