1 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Well, hey Angel fans, and welcome back to Halo Territory, 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: where we discuss all things Angels. I am Mike Di Giovanna, 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: former Los Angeles Times baseball writer, and I'm joined by 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbo, former Angel slugger. Now, I know our last 5 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: two shows are kind of heavy, with us going in 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: depth on the Tyler Skaggs trial and doing a sobering 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: assessment of the general manager. But I promise you it 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: won't be all doom and gloom here. We'll try to 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: lighten things up every now and then have a little fun. 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: And we thought we'd start with a few shows for 11 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 1: you to get to know your Halo Territory host. So 12 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: today we're going to do a Mark Trumbo This is 13 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: Your Life episode, and next time we'll take a look 14 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: at my forty five year career as a sports writer. Now, 15 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbo played ten years in the Big leagues from 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: twenty to ten to twenty nineteen with four teams, the Angels, 17 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: of course, the Diamondbacks, the Mariners and New your Orioles. 18 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: He was a career two forty nine hitter with a 19 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: seven sixty one ops and two hundred and eighteen homers 20 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: and six hundred and twenty nine RBIs a lot of 21 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: you guys know. Mark also grew up in Orange County 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: in Villa Park, to be exact, so obvious. First question, Mark, 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: were you a huge Angels fan as a kid? 24 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 2: What other choice is there? Yeah, that's away from the ballpark, 25 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: and I have fond memories of going as a kid. 26 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 2: For whatever reason, we went on a lot of Sundays. 27 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: I think my dad fashioned himself. I don't even know 28 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: if this was possible. I do recall him haggling at 29 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 2: the window, and I don't know if it ever worked. 30 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: He had a tendency to do that, whether it was 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: Angel's tickets or cars or whatever. But I'm the opposite. 32 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 2: I prefer, you know, expedients. But so we would usually 33 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: sit down the right field line day games and watch 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: you know, Tim Salmon if he was in there. One 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: of those things about Sunday day games too, you might 36 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: recall socials. Sometimes the stars weren't always out there, so 37 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: I going hoping to see Vladimir Guerrero or you know, 38 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: name one of them, and might had the day off. 39 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: So you dealt with that. But yeah, I was a 40 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: big Angel fan, and I think getting drafted and we'll 41 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 2: talk about this, but by the team that you grew 42 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: up admiring, is you know, not many people get to 43 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 2: experience that. 44 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: Now, you made your big league debut obviously in twenty ten, 45 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: but that was not the first time you played in 46 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: Angel Stadium? Is that correct? 47 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: That is correct. In two thousand and two, our high 48 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 2: school team, Villa Park High School won the CIF State 49 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 2: championship for Division two and that game was played at 50 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: Angel Stadium. Those games are rather interesting, you. I think 51 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,679 Speaker 2: they are able to accommodate maybe five at least five 52 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: games in a single day, and you're kind of rifled 53 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: in and out. Despite it being the championship. Everyone's super 54 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: excited to play at a big league park. I know 55 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 2: they've done some of Dodger Stadium too, but this one 56 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: was at Angel Stadium. I was the starting pitcher. I 57 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 2: think I went five innings or so, and I believe 58 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: we want on to walk off Blooper. But great memories 59 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: and then you know we're told to get out of 60 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: there immediately, so no lucky to get you know, they'll 61 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 2: talk over something on the way home, but you know, 62 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: it's a it was a great time, and and it's 63 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: it's funny because you know, I had fortunately a lot 64 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: of other baseball memories to come in in the subsequent years. 65 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: But for something abou those high school years, you just 66 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: you remember pretty pretty vividly. 67 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: Was there a time like as you were growing up, 68 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: whether it's Little League, you know, whatever, you play, that 69 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: of that early high school where you had a feeling 70 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: you you know, were potentially a professional player, where you 71 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: knew you were kind of separating yourself from from the 72 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: other kids. 73 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: It's hard to say, I think, and this is what 74 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: I tell a lot of youth that I come across. 75 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: I had ups and downs. I was at a young age, 76 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: pretty advanced up until about Little league or so, and 77 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: then thirteen fourteen years old. I don't remember it being, 78 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: you know, the greatest time in my career. Arc you know, 79 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: some people developed mature quicker than others. I think I 80 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: was somewhere in the middle of the road. But I know, 81 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: performance wise, especially with the hitting, just it wasn't going well. 82 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 2: I couldn't really explain why, but maybe some of the 83 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: competition was a little you know, they were ahead of 84 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: me in some ways. And I remember I I also 85 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: played basketball. I was incredibly mediocre. I rarely shot the ball, 86 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: I playing defense usually had to guard a guy significantly 87 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: bigger than me, but that, you know, that was a 88 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 2: nice outlet, and I may have fought for all of 89 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: ten seconds that Hey, maybe I had a future in 90 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: that sport. But I'm glad that I, you know, came 91 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: to my astasis because I had no future in that sport. 92 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: So you and me both You were draft in the 93 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 1: eighteenth round in two thousand and four as a pitcher. 94 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: You were also committed to USC at that time, and 95 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 1: you didn't sign until I think a couple of days 96 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: before you were set to go to USC. How close 97 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: did you come, then co to going to college? 98 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: Unless my memory is gone, I am all but certain. 99 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: I already had textbooks ready for I guess what would 100 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: have been my freshman year, first semester. I did get drafted. 101 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: I was a guy that had a strong college commitment 102 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: that we've already said USC. My dad also went there, 103 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: and I got drafted in the eighteenth round. But I'm 104 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 2: nearly certain. I mean it was offered to me, so 105 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 2: I can say it. But at the time the White 106 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 2: Sox were going to take me late in the first round. 107 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 2: The dollar amount was a little bit less then I 108 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: guess we had come up with. In hindsight, I really 109 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: don't know why we were so firm on a particular amount, 110 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: but you only know what you know, and that's what 111 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: at the time made sense. And so we held out 112 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: and eventually the angels followed me throughout the summer plane. 113 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: I believe it was Connie Mack. We had quite a 114 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 2: talented team, and they'd kind of alert me if they 115 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 2: wanted to see me throw a few innings, and eventually 116 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: they realized that the time was running out, so they 117 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: made an offer that I'm pretty sure they knew would 118 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: get the job done, and it did, and so that 119 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 2: was one of the happiest days of my life. You know. 120 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: It happened quickly, and so all that was left was 121 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: to h you know, get your physical done and we'll 122 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 2: get you out there. And that didn't go so well. 123 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: What happened had been well. I knew my elbow had 124 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: been barking a little bit, but not in the area 125 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: that the Tommy John area was the backside. Not a doctor, 126 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: I would guess at some point I had what's called IDAs, 127 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 2: which is, you know, inflammation with the bursa, so tenderness 128 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: on the back side of the elbow and I dealt 129 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: with that, but it wasn't that big a deal. But 130 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: I knew it was a thing. And I had lost 131 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: some mobility in my elbow too, as far as being 132 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 2: able to fully extend it. So a lot of guys 133 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: deal with that. You talk to a picture that pitch 134 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 2: for any you know, decent amount of time, you know, 135 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: a lot of them experienced that. So I remember being 136 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: in doctor Yoakum's office. I had gone through all the tests. 137 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 2: I don't know if he loved everything about it, but 138 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 2: he was hawke eyeing the late doctor Yokam, incredible man 139 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: and doctor. Despite the fact that this story is going 140 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: to end with me failing my physicality was we were 141 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: very close, you know, and he was hawke eyeing an 142 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: X ray and I was like, oh, just just let's 143 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: go move on. And then he said that he would 144 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: just to make sure. I want to get a couple 145 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: more images done and you know, just make sure that 146 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: there's nothing going on here. So into the MRI tube 147 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 2: I went. I didn't see doctor Yoakum again that day. 148 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 2: Next call was to my agent, who happened to be 149 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: there as well. I believe Eddie Bain phoned him and said, 150 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: we have a situation. You know, I ended up being 151 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: I had an arthritic elbow, so not great for an 152 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: eighteen year old, but that was the reality. And I 153 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 2: think there were concerns about how that would age. If 154 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: it looked like that, then you know, too much wear. 155 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 2: And I don't know if it was from over use 156 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: as a youth or what, but that was what was 157 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 2: going on. So he said, I believe they offered half 158 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 2: the amount in that phone call, which we said, well, 159 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 2: that's not going to work that. You know, we're not. 160 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 2: I'm not desperate to sign you already know that. So 161 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 2: they pivoted and said that, and it was pretty candid. 162 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: They said, we didn't really do our due diligence on 163 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: you as a hitter. We know you can hit, but 164 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: we always much preferred the arm. Would you be up 165 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: for doing a few workouts? I said sure. So I 166 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 2: think I'm the timing. I'm not positive, but let's say 167 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: it was. The following day, I was out in Rancho 168 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: Cucamonga facing a recently drafted college pitcher. I happened to 169 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 2: do well, in my opinion. I connected with a few 170 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: I don't know if they were home runs or doubles, 171 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 2: but some solid contact. And then the next day they said, 172 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: can you come to Angel Stadium and hit early. I said, sure, 173 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 2: let me know, you know, I'll be there, and so 174 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 2: my dad and I went, I have a fun or 175 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 2: fun the recollection as Raymond, who had a little more 176 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 2: humor in the show, going through the clubhouse petrified, terrified, 177 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: like you know, And so we're walking through, I'm kind 178 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: of I'm sure I had my head glued to the 179 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 2: floor and I kind of did look up for a second, 180 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: and former Angel closer Troy Percival was on the couch, 181 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: I believe, reading a newspaper. He only had his shorts 182 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: on and said, I'll clean it up a little bit, 183 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 2: but basically, who the heck are you? And I said nothing. 184 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: I don't think my dad said anything. I think Eddie 185 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 2: Bay might have quickly moved things along. But it was 186 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 2: eye opening and first taste of what a big, big 187 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 2: locker room looked like. Yeah, I guess, so, who the 188 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: are you? You? Nobody don't find me. So we went out, 189 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 2: uh and I hit bat in practice. I'll give credit 190 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: Rick Wilson through, you know, he did an excellent job. 191 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 2: And everyone was there from a social to Mickey Hatcher. 192 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: Bill Stoneman was there, Eddie Bain was there, and Ben Hines, 193 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 2: who was a long time confident and former major leagu 194 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,719 Speaker 2: getting coach, was heavily in socials here that he liked 195 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: what he saw. He liked the backspin, if I remember correctly. 196 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: To me, I didn't think much of it. It wasn't 197 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 2: it was something I always kind of did. I couldn't 198 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 2: explain how, but you know, I was glad that he 199 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: liked me, and I hit I guess, quite a few 200 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: home runs. There were a few things written about it 201 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 2: at the time. I doubt anybody really cared, but it 202 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: is a kind of a cool story. And one other anecdote. 203 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: I had a bat that I used that day that 204 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: was from Big Five. Uh you know, their wooden bats 205 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 2: weren't available like they are today, but you know, it 206 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: was all I had and it was fine. And I 207 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: remember Rob Quinlan, I believe it, come over taking one 208 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 2: look at it and said, do you do you want 209 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: a real bat? Said I appreciate it. No, you know, 210 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 2: I think I'm gonna be okay. So it was a 211 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 2: Big five bat, which you know, it kind of makes 212 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 2: me laugh now thinking about it. And they did the job, 213 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: so you know credit there. 214 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: All right. Hey, we'll take a quick break and when 215 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: we come back we'll have more on marks transition to 216 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: the field and how he developed as a hitter. 217 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 3: Hey, make good eat at home part of your twenty 218 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 3: twenty six New Year's resolution. Hello Fresh is what we're 219 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:41,119 Speaker 3: talking about. 220 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 4: Here, steaks, seafood, whatever options you want. They have stone 221 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 4: fruit to corn on the cops. 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It sounds like the 241 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: transition from the mound to the field to first base 242 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,559 Speaker 1: specifically was pretty quick. But you also spent six, almost 243 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: six full seasons in the minor leagues. I think it 244 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: was around seven hundred and fifty games. One, how did 245 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: you develop into the hitter you eventually became. And two 246 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: that's a long time and the miners were there times 247 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: when you started to feel frustrated or wonder if you 248 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: were never going to make it. 249 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: Well, it was an interesting time. I signed. I didn't 250 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 2: play right away. I went to Instruction League. Was my 251 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 2: first experience and another interesting conversation. I remember that day 252 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: at Angel Stadium when I did the workout. We did 253 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: come to an agreement, so I essentially said, Okay, done deal. 254 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 2: And I remember having a conversation with Souch who it was, 255 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: I guess, just saying hello, getting to know me a 256 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: little bit, and he was kind of looking at me 257 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: and said, you know, what position do you play? And 258 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: I said that, well, I mainly have been a picture 259 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: but I've roamed around a bit some corner infield corner outfit. 260 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: He said, well, what do you think about catching? And 261 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: I don't know why I decided to say that I 262 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: felt like I was a little bit too big for 263 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 2: the position as we're standing eye to eye. 264 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: So. 265 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 2: Only I was, you know, even at a young age, 266 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: I said, walking away, cringing. You know this probably doesn't 267 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 2: think so much on but yeah, I signed instructional League. 268 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: First taste, I was playing third base, which we touched 269 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 2: on a little bit later. Yeah, just terrible then, as 270 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 2: I was, you know later on that position, I picked 271 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: a lot of people's brain trying to figure out how 272 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: to play a quality third base, and I just don't 273 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 2: think it was in the cards for me, But I 274 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 2: ended up playing first base. At the time, probably completely delusional, 275 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 2: I thought I did a pretty nice job. I think 276 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: everyone else thought two left feet and it's got a 277 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: long way to goo. So I really give a lot 278 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: of credit to the late Rob Peachlow Oh put in 279 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 2: a incredible amount of effort. I think one of the 280 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: highlights for him was. He became bench coach with the 281 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 2: Angels for I believe at least one or two seasons, 282 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 2: and I ended up being a guy that was going 283 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 2: in at times for lateening defense, which usually is reserved 284 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: for guys that are maybe a little more competent or 285 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 2: trustworthy than the starter. And I think it was very 286 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: interesting for him because at one point and I can 287 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 2: get confirmation, but I already know. I don't think my 288 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 2: defense was viewed as anything other than poor, you know, 289 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 2: not good. So I had to work quite hard at that. 290 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: And Jeter Hines give a lot of credit to him. 291 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 2: He was instrumental in, you know, my formative years. He 292 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 2: was the field coordinator, very straight shooter, which I always 293 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 2: appreciated too, never sugarcoated it, and if it didn't look 294 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: the part, you were going to hear about it, and 295 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 2: if you needed to pick it up, you were going 296 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 2: to hear about it. They ran a tight ship and 297 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 2: set the tone for what was to come, and I 298 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 2: think it was a good a good thing because Mike 299 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 2: Susher demanded, you know, players that were ready, you knew 300 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 2: the signs, you knew what you were expected to do, 301 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,479 Speaker 2: and that tone was set at the lowest levels, and 302 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 2: I think we were all better because of it. 303 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 1: You were called up in September, call up in twenty ten. 304 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: What do you recall your big league debut. 305 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 2: It I got called up. I had a nice year 306 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: in Triple A. I mean, briefly touching on a couple 307 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: of the affiliate stops, played an oora my first year, 308 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 2: played an A ball the following year, and fell flat 309 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 2: on my face a terrible performance to twenty before two 310 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 2: twenty was, you know, somewhat acceptable. Not the type of 311 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 2: power that you read about. You know, the word potential 312 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 2: wash is associated with that, and one description of potential 313 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 2: that I've kind of come around to agree with is 314 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 2: kind of means you haven't done anything yet. It's got 315 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 2: a lot of potential, but it's not a great label. 316 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 2: And I was a guy that had, you know, they 317 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 2: rated highly on those scales for power and hitting fourteen 318 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: or fifteen home runs in a full season, that's not 319 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 2: really a lot of power at the minor league level. 320 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 2: I think twenty home runs was more indicative of a 321 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: guy with a lot of pop. And I think after 322 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 2: going on I played, I like Cedar Rapids a great place, 323 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: but I spent two years playing there I joke that 324 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 2: I had such a good time I came back for more, 325 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 2: but ultimately repeated the level because my performance warranted that. 326 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 2: So two full years there and then Ranch of Ugumuga. 327 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 2: But around that time I started to realize that everyone 328 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 2: learns differently. I guess I was and continue to be 329 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: a very visual learner, and that was very primitive. There 330 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 2: wasn't a lot of tech, there wasn't a lot of video, 331 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 2: and so it was mostly verbal coaching, and that's the 332 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 2: way it was for everyone before me as well. But 333 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 2: I started looking at some big leag hitters I remember 334 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,959 Speaker 2: Paul Canerko being the main one in Barry Bonds and 335 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 2: looking at their swings and looking at my swing in 336 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: the in the limited stuff I had, and I said, 337 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 2: they don't look anything alike. You know. Maybe the starting 338 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: was somewhat similar because we're both holding a bat, but 339 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 2: very quickly in the sequencing of the swing, I just 340 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: I didn't look like them. And I said, okay, well, 341 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 2: what do I have to do to make it look 342 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 2: a little more like them? So kind of reverse engineered it. 343 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: It ended up not being you know, close to either 344 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 2: of them, probably maybe a little closer to Knerico's. But 345 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: it took a lot of hard work, and I had 346 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: so much help along the way. But that although that 347 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: was more or less my own doing, and I was 348 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 2: a guy that I never wanted the toil away in 349 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: the minor leagu So I don't know what I was 350 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 2: going to do. I didn't have a definitive plan, but 351 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 2: I didn't know that I wanted to be a major 352 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 2: league player, and I think that's something that sounds good, 353 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 2: but I don't know if everyone that signs really believes 354 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 2: or sometimes maybe they think it's a long shot, and 355 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: I was either too delusional or something. I viewed myself 356 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: as a major league player, even if it was pretty 357 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 2: bleak at times at some of the minor league stops. 358 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: I wanted to get there. I was going to get there, 359 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: put my time in at each level, and hopefully at 360 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 2: some point earn a call up, which happened in twenty ten. 361 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 2: Had a nice season in Salt Lake, and in September 362 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 2: I remember making the drive from Salt Lake, following Hank 363 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 2: Conger and his dad, who drove I'm going to stay 364 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 2: through the night. I'm not sure what Tommy Day it was, 365 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 2: but to get there to the Ballpark or back at 366 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 2: Taynaheim in time for the next game the following day. 367 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: Well, you did establish yourself as a big leader that 368 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: following year in twenty eleven, twenty nine homers, eighty seven rbi, 369 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: second in AL Rookie of the Year vote. You think 370 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: in your career is probably ready to take off. And 371 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: then the Angels that winner signed Albert poolhosts another first 372 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: baseman for ten years and two hundred and forty million. Now, 373 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: I think the assumption among a lot of Angel fans 374 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: at the time was that you probably weren't thrilled with 375 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: that trade. What was your reaction at the time. 376 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 2: Well, I saw, you know, the breaking news. I think 377 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 2: CJ had signed about the same time, so it was 378 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 2: big headlines, similar to this offseason and sorry it I said, okay, well, 379 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 2: Albert Cools, you know, surefire Hall of famer, he's coming in. 380 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,479 Speaker 2: He's going to have to play another position, he's going 381 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 2: to have to move. Wait, no, that would be me. 382 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 2: So I didn't know what was going to happen to me. 383 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: And at the end of the year in twenty eleven, 384 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: my rookie year, I had broken my foot. Rather tough 385 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 2: injury takes a lot of it was the navicular bone 386 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 2: on the top of my foot, main weight bearing bone. 387 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 2: A lot of NBA players deal with it, sometimes it 388 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 2: cost them their careers. At the time, I said, okay, 389 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 2: I'll deal with it and get on with it, but 390 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 2: it very much limited my ability in the off season. 391 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 2: It was slow to heal and eventually when Albert came 392 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 2: into the fold and over the winter, I was given 393 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 2: a heads up. The third base was pretty much the 394 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 2: only spot that had some availability, so I had next 395 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 2: to no time. I believe I was probably cleared for 396 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 2: baseball activities. I remember with a couple of weeks before 397 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: recording the spring, so very little time to get up 398 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,880 Speaker 2: to speed to play a position that I knew would 399 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 2: be a tall task. And you know, so following year 400 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 2: I ended up. I have a very fond memory. One 401 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 2: of my you know, we can touch on it was 402 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 2: playing all nine innings behind Jared Weavers, no hitter at 403 00:22:55,119 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 2: third base. Yeah, and I'd love you get a chance 404 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 2: to have a social on maybe he can explain why 405 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 2: I was out there or seventh, eighth, the ninth at 406 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 2: least I remember looking behind, you know, starting about the 407 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 2: fifth inning, where is Kaiasko And you know, in seventh 408 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 2: and eighth inn there, So this is not funny anymore. 409 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 2: Where is Kiras? Like? You know, and you I'm assuming 410 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: you were there covering the game, you know, in the 411 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 2: ninth inning. I was like, I think I think people 412 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 2: were looking at me too, possibly Dino or otherwise, and 413 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 2: I'm like, there's nobody here, okay. Unfortunately Jared was you know, 414 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 2: he didn't get a lot of ground balls. He uh, 415 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 2: he made it very easy on his defenders. I think 416 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: I did have one of the tougher plays. A game 417 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: filled a bunch, which is beyond routine for a confident 418 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 2: third basement. But you know, for me, it's a it's 419 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 2: a good memory. 420 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: So now your first as I recall, your first day 421 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: at spring training at third base, was not a very 422 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: good memory. Am I corrective? It was a ground ball? 423 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 1: Bad hop, we'll call it. 424 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 2: I'm going to say it was field three. I don't 425 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 2: know if they've labeled him differently now, but it was 426 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 2: down and I'm still a little bit confused how they 427 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 2: are now diving up the fields. But back then that 428 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 2: was the minor league side firmly, so we were down there. 429 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: I think we wanted to be out of you for everyone, 430 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 2: as it was the first foray into this, and who 431 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: knows how ugly it could be, but we found out 432 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: pretty quickly. I don't think that one was my fault. 433 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 2: That was part of the deal that you know, those 434 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:38,159 Speaker 2: fields get a lot of use, and it happened to 435 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 2: be one of those things. And so I didn't break 436 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: my nose, but I came away with a towel and 437 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: maybe indicative of you know, things to come there. Don't 438 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 2: look at the fielding percentage if anyone out there, you know. 439 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 2: But I was completely aware that I stunk, and I 440 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 2: wore on me too, because you don't want to play, 441 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 2: you know, poor defense behind a pitcher that's out there 442 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 2: working his tail off and costing them outs. So I 443 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: did what I could. It became a situation where eventually 444 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 2: everyone it was quite obvious. I had a candidly head 445 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: in talks with my agent, I said, I'm sitting in 446 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 2: the Yankee Stadium early afternoon on the phone, and I said, 447 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 2: this is awful. I will keep going out there if 448 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 2: that's what they want, but if there's any other solution, 449 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 2: I would love to explore that. Unfortunately, an opportunity to 450 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: play some left field came about, so I did move 451 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 2: out there. 452 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 1: How when all that was going on that year, how 453 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: did you not let that affect you at the plate 454 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: because you ended up hitting thirty two homers and made 455 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: your first All Star team and took part in the 456 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: home run Derby. 457 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 2: I really don't know. I think all my focus, which 458 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: sometimes could translate to the offensive side, was totally put 459 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 2: on third base. And what am I going to do 460 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 2: over here? How am I going to do a better job? 461 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 2: A bigger guy, not that gifted with range, got to 462 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 2: cover this, got to take away the bunt. And you 463 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 2: look at guys that play it well, and I was like, 464 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 2: not even in there. You know, stratosphere, these guys, it's 465 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 2: so much better. And some of them maybe had experience 466 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 2: playing shortstop and had moved over and it's a different deal. 467 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: And I tried. I can say that I gave it 468 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 2: my best effort, but didn't last long. To answer your question, 469 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 2: I guess I give a lot of credit to Mickey Hatcher. 470 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 2: He did a tremendous job. He really connected with me 471 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 2: early on. He knew my swing, he knew what I 472 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 2: needed to do, and he was quick to tell me 473 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: when it didn't look the part. So I had a 474 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 2: great resource in Mickey to guide me on the offensive side. 475 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 2: And he doesn't maybe get talked about as much these days, 476 00:26:54,960 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 2: but he is an incredible guy, incredible energy, ever, didn't 477 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 2: have a smile on his face, tireless worker, he'd throw 478 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 2: till his arm fell off, and you know, I just 479 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 2: have very fond memories of, you know, my time with him. 480 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 1: He had another big year in twenty thirteen, thirty four homers, 481 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: one hundred rbies. And then Jerry Depoto, the GM at 482 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: the time, traded you to Arizona. I know things didn't 483 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,479 Speaker 1: go quite as you plan there, and then you were 484 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: traded to Seattle. And what a couple of years later, 485 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, Jerry Depoto's the Seattle GM, and he trades 486 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 1: you to Baltimore. What Jerry have against you? 487 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 2: I've talked to Jerry since, and Jerry's a very personal 488 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 2: guy and he's I remember the first time. I wasn't 489 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: surprised it had been rumored. Not unlike ward situation. I 490 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 2: think that we needed to starting pitching death. I didn't 491 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 2: know who I would be traded for, but I didn't 492 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 2: know my name was being floated out there and those things. 493 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 2: I was giving a slight heads up that something was 494 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 2: possibly going down. I think agents tend to get you know, 495 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 2: alerted about such a thing. And so when I when 496 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: I found out it was the Diamondbacks, they were they're 497 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,959 Speaker 2: not local to southern California, but they're close enough. And 498 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 2: but again a team I really knew very little about, 499 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 2: didn't follow them all that much, so I had to 500 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 2: go in and essentially I don't think I knew anyone 501 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:23,640 Speaker 2: on the team either, which makes it really tough when 502 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 2: you get traded. I think that for the fans out there, 503 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 2: some guys are social butterflies and they fit in immediately. 504 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,959 Speaker 2: I wasn't that. I don't think that that should surprise 505 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 2: too many. Somewhat introverted and you know, definitely made an effort, 506 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 2: but clicking with you know, a whole new group of guys. 507 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: And when you get traded, it's not just learning your teammates, 508 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: it's learning possibly well over one hundred people or more, 509 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 2: from the staff, the clubhouse staff, to the PR department. 510 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 2: And I'm not the greatest with names right off the bats, 511 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 2: so you don't want to call hey, dude or you know, 512 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,479 Speaker 2: guy or whatever. I'd like to be at least make 513 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 2: an effort. So there's that that goes on, and my 514 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 2: time in Arizona, I wish I could have done more. 515 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 2: I think I had planner fasciitis early on, battled that 516 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 2: ended up breaking some toes. Very strange thing. Hit a 517 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 2: home run in Wrigley Field, so I was happy about that, 518 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: and I go to jog out to left field for 519 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 2: the next inning and that, you know, pretty unbelievable pain 520 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 2: and what is this like a cramp or something. I'm like, 521 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 2: there's not really any muscle there. So we got an image. 522 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: Had broken two toes on my left foot, and I 523 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 2: had to deal with that. Did some rehab, came back 524 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 2: down season. The numbers weren't great. I don't think the 525 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 2: fans were thrilled. I wasn't thrilled. It came back the 526 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 2: following year, had a much better start to the year, 527 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 2: I think. I the numbers were pretty decent, but Arizona, 528 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 2: I think was a little thin at the catcher position 529 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 2: and Seattle was in need of a right handed bat. 530 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 2: So I was sent there again mid season trade, even 531 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 2: tougher being a mid season trade. Didn't know anybody had 532 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: to make All new friends started out terribly awful month 533 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: of June. Fortunately, they hired Edgar Martinez somewhere in or 534 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 2: around that time, and him and Andy Event's life were 535 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: very instrumental in getting me back on track. Andy being 536 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 2: extremely blunt, which is again I really appreciated that. He 537 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: told me, hey, what are you going to do about this? 538 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: Doesn't look right? And I said, well, I agree with you. 539 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 2: What do you do have any thoughts? You know, at 540 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 2: the time he was kind of a hitting coach, but 541 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 2: he took me out and I threw some very firm 542 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: batting practice and realized my timing was just out of whack. 543 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 2: And then Edgar still in good enough shape to hit himself. 544 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: So one am I. You know, I still have great 545 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 2: memories of handing in my bat and saying how do 546 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 2: you do how do you hit the outside pitch? How 547 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 2: do you hit the breaking ball? And being a visual guy, 548 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 2: you know what, better you know Edgar Martinez. I'm not 549 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 2: going to question his knowledge on hitting. So I think 550 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 2: that's one of those things in the game. Now that's 551 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 2: a little bit of a hot topic, is you know, 552 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 2: for more players are not, you know, the Angels being 553 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: one of the rare exceptions with Brady coming in, so 554 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 2: that helped, and then I got traded again. What did 555 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 2: Jerry have against me? I'm assuming if I had to 556 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: answer the on base percentage being low, it's not for 557 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 2: lack of try, and I've said it before. It just 558 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 2: I swung it too many pitches. I think too many 559 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 2: pitches up in the zone to be specific. Did it 560 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 2: from a young age and was just unable to really 561 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 2: make an adjustment there. So I lacked the on base 562 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 2: percentage that I think he looked for. And that's fine. 563 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 2: I can, you know, agree with that point. I don't 564 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 2: think it was anything personal. He just didn't probably care 565 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 2: for my particular brand of baseball, and so I traded 566 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 2: to the Orioles, another team knew next to nothing about 567 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: growing up here, rooming for the Angels. Why would I 568 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 2: know anything about the Orioles other than I mean, yards 569 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 2: looked pretty. I remember the home run derby there, you know, 570 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 2: that looked great. And that's about all I knew. You know, 571 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: I played against him as a visitor. You go in 572 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 2: for three days, you're out. You know. Sometimes you get 573 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:11,840 Speaker 2: a little bit of a feel for the city, but 574 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 2: not much. But I ended up being a great place 575 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 2: for me. Yeah, you know, to have a nice season 576 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 2: going into free agency. 577 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, twenty sixteen your career year, I think it was 578 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: forty seven homers, one hundred and eight RBIs. That led 579 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: to the big free agent contract the following year, but 580 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: eventually the career was derailed by knee injuries. How tough 581 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 1: was that in terms of the way your career ended? 582 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 1: And does it give you some empathy for what Mike 583 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 1: Trout's been going through these last few years? 584 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 2: It gives me a ton of empathy. I was. I 585 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 2: had a poor year in twenty seventeen. I had no excuses. 586 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 2: You don't anticipate these things. I didn't. I knew that 587 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 2: I was coming off twenty fifteen. I had alluded to 588 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 2: Edgar and Andy really helping me, and I liked where 589 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 2: I was from a mechanical mechanics standpoint, with the bad 590 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 2: trending upwards. But then you have the off season, so that, 591 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 2: you know, puts a little bit of the breaks on that. 592 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 2: But sixteen everything kind of clicked. I didn't really expect that. 593 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 2: It was you want to put together a nice season. 594 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 2: Some ended up being a lot better than others. You know, 595 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 2: in hindsight now, because I don't have to go out 596 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 2: there and hit. I think the good years versus the 597 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 2: bad years, probably mechanically speaking, I was more sound. Mechanics 598 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 2: at that point were not all that in fashion. Your 599 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 2: swing your swing, you know, your swing is your swing, 600 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 2: swing your swing. I've changed my opinion on that, but 601 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 2: that was more or less what I was told coming up. 602 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 2: I disagree with it completely now. I think guys can 603 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 2: make big changes and some really need to, and I 604 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 2: was the guy that needed to. And even in my 605 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 2: Big League gard it kind of wandered at times, and 606 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 2: when I got off track sometimes I wasn't able to 607 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 2: get it back on track like I would have wanted it. 608 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:11,439 Speaker 2: And I didn't take enough walks to offset the times 609 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 2: where I wasn't really hitting, so that was a challenge. 610 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 2: And then twenty eighteen, I actually made changes over the 611 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 2: winter that I thought were really good. I think I 612 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 2: had a more productive year of the bat. But my 613 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:27,759 Speaker 2: knee basically just went away, disintegrated whatever I know. It 614 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 2: started some clicking and then completely started to give out. 615 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 2: And it was an odd injury. There wasn't a single 616 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 2: incident that I could point to. It wasn't obvious what 617 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 2: was even going on. It just started to swell a lot, 618 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 2: and I just kept playing, probably to my detriment, almost 619 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 2: most definitely to my detriment, but I was still hitting. 620 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 2: I was still able to contribute there. And I think 621 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 2: Buck Showalter was managing at the time, and it kind 622 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 2: of had the mentality if I'm not going to be 623 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 2: the first one to blink, you know. I don't know 624 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 2: why I had that, but I think point of you know, 625 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,479 Speaker 2: too much pride most likely. But I wanted to play. 626 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 2: I wanted to provide some value because I you know, 627 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 2: it's tied to contract. It wanted to earn it. So 628 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:13,879 Speaker 2: I kept going, kept going. Eventually I could barely run 629 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 2: it all and he said, hey, you know, what do 630 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 2: you think about getting this looked at? I said, yeah, okay, 631 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 2: I agree. We did and it ended up being an injury. 632 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 2: That's a really tough one of cartilage defect. It's not 633 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 2: going to sound like much to the casual viewer, but 634 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 2: you know, you see some NBA guys deal with the 635 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:34,880 Speaker 2: NFL guys, a few baseball guys have dealt with it. 636 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:38,719 Speaker 2: It was incredibly tough. Adults can't regrow cartilage and a 637 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 2: huge chunk and basically kind of peeled off, so it 638 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:45,479 Speaker 2: was bone on bone and it's still that way now. 639 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:48,800 Speaker 2: So at some point I will be needing a knee replacement. 640 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 2: It's ideally not done on people my age about to 641 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 2: be forty. You'd like to wait a little longer so 642 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,080 Speaker 2: you don't have to get a revision. But I did 643 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 2: get surgery on it, kind of a one of those 644 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 2: procedures that as a average best success rate and worked 645 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 2: diligently to recover. Twenty nineteen was, you know, basically injured 646 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,239 Speaker 2: the entirety of the year up until September. I knew 647 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 2: it wasn't right. I knew my athleticism was totally zapped 648 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 2: what little I had to begin with. And that was 649 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 2: really a strange thing because I just didn't feel explosive 650 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,880 Speaker 2: at all. You know, I couldn't exactly pinpoint why, but 651 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 2: you know, a professional athlete going out here and I 652 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 2: got a couple of hits. The numbers were not good, 653 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 2: But I do take a lot of pride in the 654 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 2: fact that I made an effort to come back, and maybe, 655 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 2: like I said, to my detriment, but but it was 656 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 2: important to me and I thought it, you know, even 657 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 2: if I was the only one that cared you know, 658 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,200 Speaker 2: I thought it was the right thing to do. 659 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: I'm closed with a few somewhat rapid fire questions. What 660 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 1: would you say your most memorable game was. 661 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 2: Got a couple. I think my first home run off 662 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:06,280 Speaker 2: of well, at the time, he went by Fausto Carmona 663 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 2: if you changed that, but you remember that I had 664 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 2: some walk off home runs that were incredibly you know, 665 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:20,000 Speaker 2: that was awesome. I still at times will either you know, 666 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 2: somebody will send the clip or I'll come across it, 667 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 2: you know, especially those at Angel Stadium with the fireworks 668 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 2: and stuff, and you know that's that's just a great feeling. 669 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 2: I guess the home run derbius were a lot of fun, 670 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 2: a lot of nerves, very tiring. They changed the format 671 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 2: a little bit, and at that point when you do those, 672 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:42,839 Speaker 2: there was really nothing on the lot. Well maybe there 673 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 2: was a truck or something. I don't know, but there 674 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 2: was a huge financial incentive, so it was more just 675 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 2: getting you know, the name out there and some exposure 676 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,360 Speaker 2: and hopefully putting on a good show. I think I 677 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:54,359 Speaker 2: did what I could. I didn't win any of them, 678 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 2: but you know, there's people still seem to enjoy it, 679 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:01,160 Speaker 2: so that was cool. All start. You know, no hits 680 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,279 Speaker 2: there either, but you know, go figure. But I got 681 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 2: to say, you know, it made the All Star team twice. 682 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 2: Not a lot of people you don't get to say that. 683 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 2: So I did everything in the game that I really wanted. 684 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 2: I tried to experience. I even got thrown out once, 685 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 2: kind of picked my spot in Chicago, young umpire, and 686 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 2: up to that point I'd never been ejected, so it 687 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:26,399 Speaker 2: was kind of wondering what does it take to get 688 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:31,040 Speaker 2: thrown out? But you had you in front of it, 689 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 2: you'll find out pretty quickly. 690 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:37,839 Speaker 1: So you're known for you know, for you so you're 691 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 1: known for your trum bombs. What what was the longest 692 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:40,760 Speaker 1: home run. 693 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:43,880 Speaker 2: You ever hit? It'd have to be the one in Oakland. 694 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:48,040 Speaker 2: I ended up being teammates with Dan Stairley later, and 695 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:52,440 Speaker 2: he asked if I remembered that one in particular, to 696 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:56,440 Speaker 2: which I initially it's kind of my style, pretended that 697 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,120 Speaker 2: I didn't know what he was talking about, and then 698 00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 2: I dropped the act and I said, well, Dan, of 699 00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:04,960 Speaker 2: course I remember that. You you know it was it 700 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 2: was I think, you know, it was really cool. As 701 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 2: Victor Rojas and Gooby they did a tremendous job on 702 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 2: that call. I think that's probably the clip I get 703 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:19,120 Speaker 2: sent the most, and it's liked somebody else to maybe 704 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 2: paste that one off again. 705 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:23,919 Speaker 1: What was the distance did they stackcast that at the time? 706 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:24,480 Speaker 1: Do you remember? 707 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:27,839 Speaker 2: It was maybe a little before four seventy nine? Gun 708 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 2: to my head, I think it would. I think I 709 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,600 Speaker 2: went a little further than that. If it didn't, whatever, 710 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 2: but I got all of it. I think I had 711 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:39,359 Speaker 2: some count leverage two oh three to one, whatever it was. 712 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:42,440 Speaker 2: And if you want to watch one, watch. 713 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:46,720 Speaker 1: That one craziest play you've ever seen on a baseball field. 714 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:53,840 Speaker 2: Craziest play. I don't know if I'm going to be 715 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 2: able to pinpoint a singular one. Probably the craziest. I 716 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:02,960 Speaker 2: don't know. Me playing third base all no hit her. 717 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,000 Speaker 2: I will try and come up with a better answer 718 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,400 Speaker 2: for now. That's what I'm gonna say. 719 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 1: I I know I can't ask your favorite teammate because 720 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 1: you won't be able to name just one, but favorite teammates. 721 00:40:15,440 --> 00:40:18,879 Speaker 2: I can remember so many that Tory Hunter was incredibly influential. 722 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:20,719 Speaker 2: I had a locker next to him when I got 723 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:24,800 Speaker 2: called up, and he was a great example of a 724 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:27,760 Speaker 2: true professional. He tightened me up a couple of times 725 00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:31,479 Speaker 2: if he saw something just as I thought was totally fine. 726 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,279 Speaker 2: And you know, that's how you learn. You have a 727 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 2: guy to say, hey, this is the way. And so 728 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:41,360 Speaker 2: that was great Jared Weaver, you know for borgeous conguer myself, 729 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,359 Speaker 2: you know, the young guys he you know, broke us 730 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 2: in and I think that that was I think the 731 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,160 Speaker 2: game has changed. I think fans are, you know, per 732 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 2: the comments and stuff were getting. They want to know 733 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:54,719 Speaker 2: what was it like? What was it like? I think 734 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 2: it was. You know, you bet you were around it too. 735 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:01,880 Speaker 2: I mean you cover the team. It was. The clubhouse 736 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 2: culture was a little bit different. You know, you had 737 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 2: to earn your strength, let's say. And if you were 738 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:08,320 Speaker 2: a young guy that you know, I hadn't done anything 739 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 2: at the big leagues yet, you may not get you know, 740 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,520 Speaker 2: a ton of respect right away. You go out there 741 00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:15,640 Speaker 2: and you get some hits, and uh yeah, that's one 742 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,960 Speaker 2: thing too, you trumbomb nugget. You want to have more fun, 743 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:25,200 Speaker 2: get more hits. There you go if you just a 744 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:28,160 Speaker 2: couple more, because I don't I don't want to leave 745 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,000 Speaker 2: leave anyone out. I think Eric I Borrow would be 746 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:33,759 Speaker 2: the last one. And it might be somewhat surprising to 747 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:37,000 Speaker 2: people how he Kendrick. I mean, I could just keep going. 748 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 2: But Eric was very good. He knew I took the 749 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 2: game too seriously, and he would be a shortstop and 750 00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:46,560 Speaker 2: he'd kind of, you know, do this across the way, 751 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:50,439 Speaker 2: and I knew exactly what he meant, and it worked 752 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 2: really well, and it was I always thank him for that, because, 753 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:55,840 Speaker 2: you know, without somebody like that, who knows, you know, 754 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:58,840 Speaker 2: just continue to mutter to myself. I wish I hadn't, 755 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:01,960 Speaker 2: you know, but you can't ever redo. But he was 756 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,400 Speaker 2: good about saying, hey, man, have some fun, you know, 757 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:07,759 Speaker 2: and you know, big picture, who knows how long you're 758 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:09,759 Speaker 2: going to be out here, you know, make the most 759 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 2: of it. 760 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:12,719 Speaker 1: Funniest clubhouse story. We'll close with that. 761 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:23,279 Speaker 2: Anything jumped, Uh, yeah, one story. It's one of these things. 762 00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:28,000 Speaker 2: Is you know, uh, after a game in Cleveland, an 763 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:33,239 Speaker 2: athletic trainer, longtime athletic trainer for the Angels, a long 764 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:38,000 Speaker 2: time athletic trainer. I came in the clubhouse on one 765 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:43,960 Speaker 2: of the large medicine balls, bouncing up and down. I 766 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:46,520 Speaker 2: might have forgot to put uh, you know, a couple 767 00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:47,360 Speaker 2: of layers of clothes on. 768 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:50,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think I know who you're talking about, 769 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:52,560 Speaker 1: Rick Smith. 770 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:56,520 Speaker 2: But uh, in an effort to break the ice, and 771 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:59,840 Speaker 2: I think it was completely on point. The timing was 772 00:43:00,680 --> 00:43:05,439 Speaker 2: everyone was dying laughing, and Smitty was incredible in that way. 773 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:08,279 Speaker 2: You know, he never took it too seriously. He had 774 00:43:08,520 --> 00:43:13,120 Speaker 2: war stories going back decades. He'd seen it all. Another 775 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:17,720 Speaker 2: guy that was incredibly helpful, along with you know others 776 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:20,400 Speaker 2: that that we've mentioned along the way, and you know 777 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:26,160 Speaker 2: that story, I'll never forget it. See it that That 778 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 2: one's hard firmly imprinted on the well. 779 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:32,320 Speaker 1: My fondest memory of Rick Smith is very similar. He 780 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:35,359 Speaker 1: tended to pull a lot of his stunts without many 781 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:38,840 Speaker 1: any clothes on. But remember that like twol belt like 782 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:40,799 Speaker 1: thing he used to wear around his waist with all 783 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:43,439 Speaker 1: his you know, tape and scissors and all of his uh, 784 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:48,719 Speaker 1: all of his training. He would he came into the 785 00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:52,280 Speaker 1: clubhouse after a tough loss wearing only that and obviously 786 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:54,920 Speaker 1: dancing the only way Rick Smith could. So that is 787 00:43:54,960 --> 00:43:57,919 Speaker 1: a visual we will not have on the show. But 788 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:02,360 Speaker 1: Mark Trumbull, this is your thanks for sharing with us today. 789 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:05,239 Speaker 1: That's going to be all for Halo territory and we 790 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:06,359 Speaker 1: will see you next time.