1 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome to a Ball with Eric Ohs. 2 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: I am Eric Ohs, and it is good to have 3 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: you with us for what is episode number five and 4 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: a special one for you as we have the opening 5 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: day starter for the Clinton lumber Kings. The right hander 6 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 1: Chris Vallamont took some time to talk with us, So 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: very appreciative of him for taking the time on a 8 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: rainy day here in Clinton as we record this on Tuesday, 9 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: April thirtieth, the rains they found us again the weather, 10 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: which has been a theme and expected theme of the 11 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: first month of the Midwest League season that it has continued. 12 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: If you followed the lumber Kings on any of the 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: social media programs and platforms, he probably would have seen 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: us play on the island out at Modern Woodman Park, 15 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: a facility that the lumber Kings had really treated like 16 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: a house of horrors in the twenty eighteen season when 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 1: they had beaten the River Bandits the Single a affiliate 18 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: for the Houston Astros, in Game two of the doubleheader 19 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: on Sunday, April the twenty eighth. That was their first 20 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: win in Quad Cities since twenty seventeen. That's how long 21 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: it had been. So a curse it was lifted, and 22 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: that was primarily thanks to a phenomenal pitching performance from 23 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: Alberto Guerrero. So there has been plenty of great starting 24 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: pitching the lumber Kings have received this season, so he 25 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: thought Chris was an appropriate guest to visit with. He 26 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: was with the lumber Kings on the opener, as we mentioned, 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: on the fourth out in King County, taking the ball there, 28 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: and he has not missed a start since then. His 29 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: five starts on the season as we record this here 30 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: on April thirtieth, are the most on the team. Ballamont 31 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: is coming off perhaps his worst start of the season, 32 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: but it was still a good one. He just got 33 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: roughed up in the fifth and you'll hear him say that, 34 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: allowing five to the River Bandits, but very very impressive 35 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: for Vallamont. As we record this, Vallamont's record Z to 36 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: two really through a lack of run support. In fact, 37 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: Vallamont only had one run of support through his first 38 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: three starts, and that was seventeen innings of work. In fact, 39 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: through his first two outings he didn't have any support. 40 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: He was taken two or two to nothing losses to 41 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: Kane County and to Quad Cities. The era tells a 42 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: more complete story on how the season has gone for 43 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Vallamont two point seven to three on this season twenty 44 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: six and a third innings of work, and if you 45 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: remember all the way back to episode one with the 46 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: manager Mike Jacobs, he highlighted Vallimont as a guy who 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: will need to throw strikes this season. He has thrown 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: strikes twenty seven strikeouts so far on the year, he 49 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: has walked only eight batters and as a result, the 50 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: opponent sitting just two thirteen against him, so big thanks 51 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: to chrispher taking the time again had an appropriate place 52 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: to start because the starting rotation which has been so 53 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: sharp coming into a series with the West Michigan white Caps. 54 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: The single a affiliate of the Detroit Tigers here in the 55 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: Midwest League. They're starters a two point six y four 56 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: earned run average. The bullpen, which has had their issues 57 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: when it comes to blown saves, the lumber Kings have 58 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: blown as we record this, seven of their fifteen opportunities 59 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: to close out games, but still a very respectable bullpen 60 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: ERA of two point sixty six and that translates to 61 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: an overall staff earned run average of two point six 62 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: five and really highlights what you heard on the last 63 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: episode from the director of player Development, Dick Scott talk 64 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: about a minor league system that he feels is their 65 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: biggest strength in bitching, and it certainly has translated and 66 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: looks to be the case every time Vallamont takes the ball. 67 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: One of the hardest throwers on the staff as well, 68 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: a guy who has gotten up to ninety seven miles 69 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: per hour with his fastball, and a high round pick 70 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: as well. He was taken in the fifth round out 71 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: of Mercy Hurst, that's the Division two college, so we'll 72 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: talk about that with Chris. And also the chip on 73 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: the shoulder that he said it has placed on his 74 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: shoulder for being maybe under scouted out of high school 75 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: with a lack of offers from top tier programs, but 76 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: very appreciative of the experience he got out of Mercy 77 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: Hurst and a big reason why he is in the 78 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: professional ranks with the Miami Marlins. Today. Giving you a 79 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: full report card though down on the farm on the 80 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: A level with the Miami Marlins, and that includes some 81 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: of the negative and for the lumber Kings, when you 82 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: look at the negative it goes straight to the defense. 83 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: It has been an issue this season and it has 84 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: led to forty one errors on the year. That is 85 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: the most in professional baseball, and that is whether it's 86 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: in affiliated baseball or in independent ranks. And the primary 87 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: suspect on it, and it's too bad we have to 88 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: single one out, but the errors are so such a 89 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: large number we have to, and that's Christopher Torres, a 90 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: guy who is in the MLB dot COM's ranking of 91 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: the top thirty prospects for the Miami Marlins. Think the 92 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: last I had seen at Torres up at twenty eight 93 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: on the top thirty list and the scouting report for him. 94 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: A guy with great range in getting the balls. He's 95 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: got a great arm as well. But thirteen errors on 96 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: this season and unfortunately for Christopher Torres, what that will 97 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: mean as it currently sits. Right now, he is on 98 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 1: pace to break a record here in Clinton for errors 99 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: committed at shortstop and it was set in nineteen sixty 100 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: eight by Maximo Torres, who had committed sixty five defensive miscues. 101 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: So hopefully that wrong can be righted. We do have 102 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: some bad information to report, or sad information, and that 103 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: is Christopher Torres placed on the injured list, may be 104 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: hoping that just a brief seven day stint on the 105 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: injured list may be able to right some wrongs there, 106 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: as he currently leads the Midwest League and walks drawn 107 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: nineteen of those, so he is an important facet of 108 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings offense and for the longest time he 109 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: was the only switch hitter until Sam Castro had arrived here. 110 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: So he also adds some versatility. A guy who plays 111 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: at second and third in beats from both sides of 112 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: the plate. So we hope Torres will be all right 113 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: and can right the wrongs on the defensive side of things. 114 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: But as you'd imagine with forty one errors committed as 115 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: a team, he is not the only one. We'll highlight 116 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: gerrar In Karnacion for two reasons. We'll start with the good, 117 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: and that's the offense. Fortunately, though for Incarnacion, he saw 118 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: a season long twelve game hitting streak come to an 119 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: end on game one out in Quad Cities, a streak 120 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: or a game that also had ended a stretch of 121 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: reaching base safely at twenty consecutive games for Incarnacion, and 122 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: so that had come to an end. That was the 123 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: longest stretch for any Clinton player going back to nineteen 124 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: fifty four to start a season in reaching base safely. 125 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: So In Carnacion, who is among the league leaders in 126 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: just about everything if he's not flat out leading the league, 127 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: has been seeing a consistent approach of the plate that 128 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: is translated into a three point fifty two average, which 129 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: is among the league leaders. Five home runs, which is 130 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: currently third most in the Midwest League, twenty one RBIs 131 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: the most in the Midwest League, thirty one hits the 132 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: most in the Midwest League, and also the most total 133 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: basis as well for Incarnacion, so he has been fun 134 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: to watch in more ways than one. Offensively, but on 135 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: both sides of the coin. You also have to look 136 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: at Incarnacion's issues defensively. Now, we've had about a month 137 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: of the books now here in the twenty nineteen season, 138 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: and Incarnacion has already been flagged for five errors, which 139 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: is quite a lot for an outfielder like the right 140 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: fielder jerra In Carnascione is. Now, most of those errors 141 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: are from a great tool that he has defensively, his arm. 142 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: He has got a cannon, and unfortunately that will lead 143 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: to him showing it off at times when maybe you 144 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: wished he hadn't, and he just throws it over everybody's head. 145 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: So that's where the majority of the five errors have 146 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: come for in Carnacion, but still a big factor in 147 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: the forty one errors that have been charged to the 148 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: lumber Kings as a team. Other offensive highlights that we 149 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: also wanted to give some do two and one of 150 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: them is Bubba Hollinsllans for one brief day had passed 151 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: in Carnacion when it came to batting average. He has 152 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: been one of the lumber Kings' most consistent hitters this season. 153 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: Bubba Hollins, who is the son of former Big leaguer 154 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: Dave Hollins, who was also a former All Star, bind 155 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: you it's really been the everyday third baseman for the 156 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: lumber Kings. He had come into the series with the 157 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: Wisconsin or with the West Michigan white Caps, I should say, 158 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: batting three thirty eight on the year, and that average 159 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: is a little bit different than what you'd see from 160 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: Jerarian Carnacion. And talking with the voice of the Quant 161 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: City's rivermanits again the Single a affiliate of the Houston 162 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: Ascros in Jason Kemp. He said that Hollins may be 163 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: the toughest doubt in the lumber Kings lineup right now, 164 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: and that's because he hits it a similar clip as 165 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: jerrar In Carnacion around three point thirty on the season, 166 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: but he doesn't strike out nearly as much. Hollins has 167 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: played in eighteen games so far this year, he has 168 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: struck out only twelve times and he has walked five 169 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: times as well. So Hollins has been a guy that 170 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: has put the ball in play for the majority of 171 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: his time at plate and adding a little bit of 172 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: some contrast and a balance at a lineup that when 173 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: you look at the lumber Kings, you see a team 174 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: average of two to eighteen as we record this on 175 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: April thirtieth. But then you think, well, that's not very good. 176 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: That's very low and a lot of room for improvement. 177 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 1: But then you look at the slugging percentage and you 178 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: think everything is just fine. I mean, they're slugging three 179 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: point fifty eight. As the majority of the lumber Kings 180 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: hits have come in the extra base hit variety. Remember, 181 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: for the first week of this season, the lumber Kings 182 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: had zero home runs as in none, and now they 183 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: have nineteen of them, and we're still in the same 184 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: month when we said that. According for nineteen home runs 185 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,359 Speaker 1: on this season, that is nine more than their opponents 186 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: as well. In that contrast and how lumber Kings are 187 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: trying to beat their opponents, it has been with big 188 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: hits and not really stationed to station. It has come 189 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: with balls in the gap and balls over the fence. 190 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: Connor Scott who had his first home run of his 191 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: season here for the lumber Kings on Thursday, which was 192 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: a technical road game even though it was played here 193 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 1: in Clinton due to the flooding issues down in Quad Cities. 194 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: And we'll be talking in fact with Connor Scott next 195 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: week as well. But that had to feel good and 196 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: look good for everyone. It was the game deciders. Scot 197 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: into the lumber Lounge here in right field in Clinton 198 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: for his first home run of the season, which amounted 199 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: to a game winner against the Quad Cities and a 200 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: seven to two triumph on Thursday, April the twenty fifth. 201 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: Also big bats as well. It's good to see Sean Reynolds. 202 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: He now has a couple of home runs on this season. 203 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: His average has really taken off as well. It's up 204 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: to one point eight two which is about one hundred 205 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: points higher than it was about three weeks ago. In fact, 206 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: several multi hit games for Sean Reynolds now. And that 207 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: is the picture of the lumber Kings offensively. On the 208 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: pitching side of things, it'll start and end with the 209 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: starting rotation. You heard it last week from the director 210 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: of player development for the Miami Marlins and Dick Scott. 211 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: This is an organization that feels like they have a 212 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: lot of talented pitching, and here in Clinton, especially a 213 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: lot of talent in the starting rotation. He said that 214 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: of the opening day guys that were sent here, seven 215 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: of them starting pitchers. And it's why you've seen the 216 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: lumber Kings rotation in all kinds of flux. You've got 217 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: Manuel Rodriguez and Alberto Carrero typically piggybacking starts, which will 218 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: mean a guy will start for four or five innings. 219 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: The next picture comes out to finish the game off 220 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: and you only need to call on two arms. That 221 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: is also done in the rotation between Humberto Mehea and 222 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,719 Speaker 1: George Soriano. Arms that have been incredibly sharp for the 223 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: lumber Kings, as just about every starter has been. And 224 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: speaking to that length, that can be given when the 225 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: doubleheaders come, and on Sunday they did. It was the 226 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: first doubleheader of the twenty nineteen season. Lumber Kings walked 227 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: away with a split of that doubleheader and split up 228 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: the four game series with the River Bandits, but it 229 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: was the first of what I am sure will be 230 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: many more. The lumber Kings have a scheduled double header 231 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, April or rather May the first, and then 232 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: they will have another doubleheader at the end of May 233 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: when they go to Beloit for a four game series 234 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 1: that will make up a postponement that had occurred out 235 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: in Beloit on Sunday, April the fourteenth. So they are 236 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: coming and that means that the starting pitching staff will 237 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: need to eat up perhaps a little bit more innings, 238 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: and they've got the guys to do it. They've got 239 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: seven starters here and when you think about it, he 240 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: can he maybe even throw Sean Gunther in there. He's 241 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: had some long experiences out of the bullpen in his 242 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: brief professional career. He has been very sharp as a 243 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: lumber Kings reliever. But the pitching started with Chris Vallamont, 244 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: and he is our guest today here on episode five 245 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: of a ball. We appreciate him taking the time and 246 00:12:41,280 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: he will be joining us next and welcome back here 247 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 1: on a ball with Eric Ohs. We're now joined by 248 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: lumber King's opening day starter, Chris Vallimon. Thanks for taking 249 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: the time here to talk with us. 250 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 2: Yep, thank you. Well. 251 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: I guess we can start with the twenty nineteen season 252 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 1: for you and what has been a really strong start 253 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings. I guess we can call you 254 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: the ace right, so to speak. You were the starter 255 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: on opening day, that's how it usually works. But you 256 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: were from in Erie, Pennsylvania, so you're used to our 257 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: cold weather here, and I thought it was pretty cool 258 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: when you got the ball and you said you were 259 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: looking forward to that cold weather challenge out in King County. 260 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: So if you could just take us through the start 261 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: of your twenty nineteen season and being told that you'd 262 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: be the first to get the bump on the first 263 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: day for the lumber Kings here in twenty nineteen. 264 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: Oh, it was a very exciting, humbly moment. And like 265 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 2: I said, I was used to the cold. I was 266 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: excited to pitch out there. I did it all through college, 267 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 2: so I think it was kind of like my natural habit. 268 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: I guess, yeah, absolutely right, even with the snow and 269 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: everything else. Unfortunately, the weather has been a theme here 270 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: in the Midwest League, but that's to be expected, I 271 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: guess in April and Maine. Of course, Chris you knows 272 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: all about that because he's from this area. But the 273 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 1: start to the season too, What do you think has 274 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: been working for you on the mound? I guess through 275 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: what is it five starts for you so far on 276 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: this season, just coming off your last one a day ago, 277 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: we should say, recording this on April thirtieth here in Clinton. 278 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: But the first takeaway I guess from your first month 279 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: of starts for the Lumberkings thus far. 280 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 2: I think I was off to a really good start. 281 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 2: I ran into trouble in the fifth last game, but 282 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: other than that, I just tried to carry on from 283 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: the end of the season last year after the All 284 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: Star break, I had a pretty good I had it 285 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 2: on a good note, and then we went to instructs 286 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 2: and I learned a lot down there, just like mechanics 287 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 2: and staying under control. Where in college, I was going 288 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 2: to just throw it down the middle as hard as 289 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: I could, and that was going to get those batters out? 290 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: Is that the different because sometimes you hear a picture, right, 291 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: the difference between a thrower and a pitcher. Right, So 292 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: maybe in college was it just the throwing, and then 293 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: when you get to the professional ranks, it's more of 294 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: that refined here's where you spot it, here's what you pitch. 295 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: Went in certain areas too, so that you know the 296 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: chess match maybe factors into it. Is that something that 297 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: you've felt to spend a difference from amateur to professional 298 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: ranks early on in your pro career? 299 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: Definitely, just because, like I said, being from a D 300 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: two school, you didn't really see V Low like hitters 301 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 2: didn't see V Loo every day, so you could kind 302 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: of just blow it by people. And when you're not 303 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: expecting or when you're expecting ninety two ninety three at 304 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 2: that level, and then you break off a curve ball, 305 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 2: it doesn't really matter where it is. Yeah, kind of 306 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 2: get like a lot of swings and misses. And then 307 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 2: here you actually have to exect. Obviously, you have to 308 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 2: execute and like make good pitches, not just throw it 309 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 2: down the pipe. 310 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: Right, Well, we should say to the uninitiated, the low 311 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: velocity that is our our term definition for you. We're 312 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: talking here with the picture, so we've got some jargon 313 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: and Chris Bellomont, but velow is what you're known for. Velocity. 314 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: We were talking with Marty Felis, the pitching coach here. 315 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: Tellasi you'd gotten up to ninety seven at one point 316 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: on this season, so a hard right handed thrower. When 317 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: did you feel because it seems like a lot of 318 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: work goes into getting the pitches up to a ninety 319 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: seven mile per hour range, But when did you feel 320 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: that you had that gift that you could get there? 321 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: Was that early early, early on, even before your d 322 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: two days out at Mercy Hurst, or was that something 323 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: that maybe had occurred maybe in that period. 324 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 2: Uh, yeah, it definitely occurred at Mercy or just with 325 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 2: like the environment that h Coach Spana, my coach there 326 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: like created, it was almost we competed against each others 327 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 2: or against each other like pitching staff wise, where it 328 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: wasn't let's go out and try to be better than 329 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 2: the opposite pitcher on that given day. It was like 330 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: all within house. We had Dan Altavilla who got drafted 331 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 2: in twenty or yeah, twenty fourteen, and Colin McKee who 332 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: just got drafted by the Astros in twenty sixteen. McKee 333 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: was always trying to be better than Dan and then 334 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 2: I McKee was a great like mentor for me, teaching me, 335 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: helping me there, and I was always trying to be 336 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 2: better than him. And then it was just like I said, 337 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: the environment that he created, everybody wanted to be better 338 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 2: than each other and just pushed each other to get 339 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 2: to that next level. And I think that's kind of 340 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 2: where it all grew. Like weight room wise, I do 341 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 2: drive line and that was kind of like just maturing 342 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: into my body with their program as well. It just 343 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 2: I just saw the velocity tick up each year from 344 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 2: my senior year of high school. 345 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: Was that something that when you first stepped on campus 346 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: at Mercy Hurst that you were thinking about getting the 347 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 1: velocity up? Or where did you feel like you were 348 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: as a baseball player. You know, coming out of high 349 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 1: school and going into college at a D two school 350 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: could take us through that because you know D two 351 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: to the professional ranks, that's a jump that not a 352 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: whole lot of people can make. And for you to 353 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: be taking the fifth round, which is very high too, 354 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: which I think shows that that work it clearly had 355 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: paid off to that extent. 356 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 2: I kind of had a chip on my shoulder going 357 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: into college. I only I actually only had three offers, 358 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 2: all Division two, and two of them were they were 359 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: lower end p SAX schools. But it was kind of 360 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: just one of those things where I felt like if 361 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 2: I wanted to continue to play, because it was always 362 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:34,719 Speaker 2: a dream of mine since I was a little kid. 363 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: When teachers would ask, oh, what do you want to 364 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 2: do when you get older, first answer was I want 365 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 2: to play baseball. Yeah, And it was kind of like 366 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 2: all the teachers would be like, all right, like maybe 367 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: let's pick something more realistic, like something that you can 368 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 2: actually do every day where yeah, and I guess going 369 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: in not really being looked at very much, it just 370 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 2: kind of pushed me to get to this level where 371 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 2: I guess, I don't know, I was just like I said, 372 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:05,400 Speaker 2: I was underrecruited, and I kind of carried that into. 373 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, that must be an issue too right up in Pennsylvania, 374 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: because I think Mike Trouded even talked about that as 375 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: hurting him being from New Jersey. When you come from 376 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: a colder area place that scouts just attributed, well, you 377 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: must not be able to face a lot of guys 378 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: very often because the weather only allows it for so 379 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: many times. Do you think that had hurt you too, 380 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: maybe in scouting for other programs as well, just being 381 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: from Eurie, Pennsylvania. 382 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 2: I think a little bit. I think scouts will find you, 383 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 2: I mean, no matter what. But I don't know. I 384 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 2: think I was underdeveloped in high school. I didn't really 385 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 2: have anything special and coach Spano took a chance and 386 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 2: kind of just took off from there. 387 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, when we first had you here, we have 388 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: all the guys fill out questionnaires and we ask you 389 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: know who your favorite coach coming up, and you had 390 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: mentioned Spano, right Gewords, Spano, the head coach out at 391 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: Mercy Hurst. If you could tell us just why that 392 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: relationship had become so significant for you in your professional 393 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: career and I'm sure now and just a personal relationship 394 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: as well now with Spano that has gotten you to 395 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: this moment here with the Marlins. 396 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 2: Being from around Merciers, I lived like five minutes away. 397 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 2: It was he kind of like took me under his wing, 398 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,479 Speaker 2: and it was he was almost like a father figure. 399 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 2: Whereas some coaches, you're there to play baseball and that's it. 400 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:33,239 Speaker 2: He cared about school, how your family was, stuff like that, 401 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: so like it wasn't just baseball while you were there. 402 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 2: And I think that I can attribute that to like 403 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 2: just growing and developing players, where a lot of coaches 404 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 2: like necessarily wouldn't take the time to actually like learn 405 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 2: about you, know about you and stuff like that. And 406 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 2: I think that makes like I said, just creates that 407 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: environment where you want to work harder for him, and. 408 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: Well you feel like you're playing for something, right, Yeah, 409 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: so it just gives you a kind of a reason, 410 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: not that you need one, but yeah, just I guess 411 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: kind of that you know, person to attached to it. 412 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: You mentioned having a chip on your shoulder coming in 413 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: from high school it maybe being under scouted. Did you 414 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: feel like that was kind of the case for most 415 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: of the people there at Mercyhurst, especially your rotation mates too. 416 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 1: Is kind of wanting to prove some people wrong and 417 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: maybe why they should have gotten some more attention. 418 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 2: If you look at Mercier's pitching staff, it's one of 419 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 2: the best in the country year after year, and it's 420 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: all attributed to them going there, putting in the work 421 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:48,239 Speaker 2: and just coming out way better than they went in. 422 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 2: Like Matt Minnick. He I don't know if he got 423 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 2: recruited by many schools. He was the D two preseason 424 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 2: pitcher of the year his sophomore year and then ran 425 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 2: into some injuries and now he's back out. I think 426 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: he has like one hundred strikeouts and like forty eight 427 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 2: innx this year. 428 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: It just shows video game numbers, right, yeah. 429 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 2: Right, And I think everybody, everybody there is just getting better, 430 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 2: and one, like I said earlier, wants to get better 431 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 2: than the next person. And I mean it shows yeah. 432 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: And again we're talking with Chris Vaalamont, one of the 433 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: Lumberkings starting pitchers and the opening day starter here in 434 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, and talking about your journey from Mercy Hurst 435 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: up into the professional ranks with the Miami Marlin. So 436 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: you then get drafted, right, you're in the fifth round, 437 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: but before you get there, you have a pretty big moment, right, 438 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: You're with a team that gets to the College World 439 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: Series and the D two ranks. And you mentioned that 440 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: as being your favorite baseball memory so far, so even 441 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: more important than being drafted. Just a couple of months later. 442 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: What was that experience like for you? And it was 443 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: it may be just so great because you had all 444 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: those guys to share in that excitement, right that it 445 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: was a group effort in that one moment. Right. 446 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,679 Speaker 2: That's like I said, that has been the best moment 447 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 2: in my baseball career, just because of how close we 448 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 2: were and we kind of I mean, we didn't have 449 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 2: a down season, but my freshman year we were like 450 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 2: one to five in the country all year and we 451 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 2: got to the playoffs and kind of just like thought 452 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 2: we were going to roll through teams, roll through teams, 453 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 2: and we ended up getting upset there. Sophomore year, same thing, 454 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 2: we kind of got a little ahead of ourselves. And 455 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 2: last year it was kind of just shows how how 456 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 2: hard everybody worked and came together as a team where 457 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 2: it wasn't like, oh, I just want to do good, 458 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 2: it was I want this kid to do good. And 459 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 2: it was just like we were like a family. So 460 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 2: it made it that much better when we got there, 461 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 2: going through that with your teammates, your brothers, and it 462 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 2: was unbelievable. 463 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then so you get drafted too. So I 464 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: usually asked the players who was the most excited, but 465 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: I want to know who the most excited was of 466 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: your fellow teammates. So when you had gotten drafted in 467 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: the fifth round, because of course you were not the 468 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: only one who was drafted out of mercy Hurst that season. 469 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: It was actually, I think one of the biggest draft 470 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: classes right from that school's history when you had been 471 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: taken it rather in the fifth round by the Marlins. 472 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: So was there a teammate too that are lots of 473 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: them that were very excited to hear your name called 474 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: by the Marlins. 475 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 2: Uh? Yeah, Like I said, we were so close, Like 476 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 2: everybody was congrats, like you did, like you put in 477 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 2: the work. 478 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: They saw, now go put in more work, right, Yeah. 479 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 2: They saw me grow from the time I was a 480 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 2: freshman when I didn't really throw that hard. I wasn't 481 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 2: really developed yet, and just like saw the hard work 482 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 2: that I put in, and they were all really excited 483 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: and they I think that's gonna push them to want 484 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 2: to work and get to the same spot I'm in now. 485 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,479 Speaker 1: Yeah. So you get drafted in the fifth round, and 486 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 1: you know who was who was outside of your your 487 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: Mercyhurst days, but maybe a family member or friend member 488 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: that or just a family friend that pushed you along 489 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: in that path and really helped you get to where 490 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: you were at even getting to Mercyhurst and then maybe 491 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: show the excitement once the fifth round comes around and 492 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: the Marlins come a calling. 493 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 2: He was actually a teammate too, but one of my 494 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 2: best friends from like my whole childhood, Josh Gregg's he 495 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 2: was there on draft a Jared Pound, another one of 496 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 2: my buddies. They were both sitting with me when I 497 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 2: got the call, and just having like them around made 498 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 2: it that much better. Obvious, I mean obviously my parents too, Yeah, 499 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 2: but like having them where they didn't feel well, they 500 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 2: felt like they had to be there, But like I said, 501 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 2: they're just friends, not family, and I don't know, it 502 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 2: meant a lot to me. 503 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: Well, then it comes to the twenty nineteen season, the 504 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: career of course, beginning professionally in twenty and eighteen, but 505 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: here with the lumber Kings in twenty nineteen five starts 506 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: so far on this season and for a team that 507 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: looks like it's a pretty good unit and a fun 508 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: unit to be around, just in a general sense, a 509 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: lot of laughter, it seems like in the lumber Kings clubhouse, 510 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 1: no matter what the results of a particular game is in, 511 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,159 Speaker 1: does that, I guess, make it a lot easier, right, 512 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: just seeing the chemistry early on that the lumber Kings 513 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 1: have had really since the bus has arrived from Jupiter. 514 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, we most of us played together last year in 515 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 2: with Tavia and I mean, being a new draft guy. 516 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 2: Last year, our class kind of came in and it 517 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 2: was the first two three weeks we kind of just 518 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 2: all right. This year's draft stayed together and then, like 519 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: I said, after that two three weeks, everybody got comfortable 520 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 2: being around each other, and I think we just took 521 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 2: it off from the end of the season last year 522 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 2: and the chemistry just carried over and I wouldn't want 523 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: to be with another group of guys right now. 524 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, it seems like it has a great coaching staff too. 525 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: With Mark de Felis the pitching coach, we've heard great 526 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: things from all the players, Mike Jacobs of course the manager. 527 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: Maybe you don't deal a lot with Frank Moore on 528 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: the hitting coach side of things, but just a great 529 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,360 Speaker 1: coaching staff that we've heard from Marlins, We've heard from 530 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: sports writers in Miami even so they know pretty well 531 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: about the unit that is here. And I was wondering 532 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: if you could speak a little bit about just the 533 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: coaching staff that is here and what they've been like 534 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: working with just through the first month of the twenty 535 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: nineteen season. 536 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 2: I was actually thinking about this the other day, just 537 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 2: even though I'm not with Frank, just having like him 538 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 2: around and joking with us, it's like, yeah, he's our coach, 539 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 2: but it also seems like they're one of us as well, 540 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 2: Like they choke around with us, always trying to like 541 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 2: keep spirits high in the in the clubhouse. Same with Jacobs, 542 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: like he'll crack jokes almost more than anybody else. And 543 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 2: I think that's what you need from a coaching staff 544 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 2: where it's not almost like I was saying at Merciers, 545 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 2: is not just baseball baseball baseball, it's you know, you 546 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 2: can joke around with. Yeah, these guys they have your back, 547 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 2: but they're also gonna, i mean, give. 548 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: You yeah, right, we know where you're going. Yeah, I 549 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: mean it's one hundred and forty games, so of course, 550 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: hopefully it should be light at some point. Otherwise that's 551 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: just gonna be exhausting if everything's intense the entire time 552 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: and you're white knuckling it. And I was always talking 553 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: about with the younger guys, the team of course you're 554 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: a college grad, so are a college guy. So it's 555 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 1: a little bit different, right so than the nineteen year 556 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: olds like a Connor Scott or a Will Banfield. But 557 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: you know the grind of the schedule. One hundred and 558 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: forty games. Of course, the pitcher is in all of 559 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: those games. That's a lot of innings that you would 560 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: conceivably throw, especially as the opening day starter. Is that 561 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 1: something like a challenge that you get through. I think 562 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: when we chalked with Josh Roberson, he mentioned one hundred 563 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 1: innings as a goal, you know, through throughout his season. 564 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: But it do you think of the season as one 565 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: of those challenges that you have to measure up to 566 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: here in a full season, especially with the lumber Kings. 567 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 2: Uh? Kind of. I don't really think about it as 568 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 2: this is gonna be like, I don't want to say, 569 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 2: like a long season, but yeah, one hundred and forty 570 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 2: games is a lot more than I've ever played before. 571 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 2: But now it's just I try to take a game 572 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 2: by game and just kind of go with the flow 573 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 2: and not think about the end result or anything like that, 574 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 2: Just like next pitch, next game, and take it in 575 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 2: baby steps instead of thinking about the bigger picture. 576 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I guess that would be pretty daunting, right, Like 577 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: I've got one hundred and thirty nine more to go, 578 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: as you say to yourself after the final game. I 579 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: think I had gotten in trouble once as an assistant 580 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: for saying that after game one in the minor leagues, 581 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: and he said, never say that again, that we've got 582 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 1: to Oh, we only have one hundred and thirty nine 583 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: more to go. It's not a very funny joke. Well, 584 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: we had yesterday, which again recording this on April thirtieth, 585 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: which is kind of an off day for the lumber Kings. 586 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: They've been rained out against the West Michigan white Caps, 587 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: but a day off which is kind of hard to 588 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: come by. It seems like once the season gets started. 589 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: What did Chris Vallimont do with his day off? Was 590 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: there anything fun? And maybe a lot of sleep? But 591 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: when you do have some energy and some time off, 592 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: do you have anything that you like to do in particular, 593 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:47,959 Speaker 1: any hobbies? 594 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 2: Not really like catch up on sleep obviously, okay with 595 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 2: the road trips, come back late at night, I mean, 596 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 2: you got you gotta rest up. Other than that, really 597 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 2: just play video games. NHL fortnite than usual. 598 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, Well, as we mentioned, the really a lot 599 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: of off days for the lumber Kings in a week, right, 600 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: which is very nice to see with Easter on Sunday 601 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: and then Monday with the off day kind of giving 602 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: you that break. Lumber Kings are then going to be 603 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: taken on the Eastern Division, so teams that you haven't 604 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: faced before, you'd seen some teams now a couple of times. 605 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: Did that help you felt, you know, and having some 606 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: familiarity with some opponents in the Quad Cities River Bandits 607 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 1: the affiliate of the Astros or the Bloit Snappers affiliated 608 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: with the A's for that familiarity helping out at all, 609 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: you think, and the preparation for those challenges that you 610 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: had when you take the ball. 611 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 2: Kind of like I said, I try to take it 612 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: pitch by pitch and not think about, oh, the last 613 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 2: outing against these guys is really good, so I can 614 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 2: just go out there and do it again. You kind 615 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 2: of have to have the pedal to the metal every 616 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 2: time you go out there and throw, so I don't 617 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 2: really try to think too much about it. I'll watch 618 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 2: like film on oh this works last game or stuff 619 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 2: like that, just to have an idea, but other than that, 620 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: I just try to attack with what I have that 621 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 2: particular day and use my stuff to get them out. 622 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 2: Not I mean, not worry too much about what I 623 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 2: did in the past. I'll look at it, but not 624 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 2: not too in depth. 625 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: Well, we'll let you go with this. This is a 626 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: busy guy we're talking to, so we'll let you go 627 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: with this. Because I thought it was kind of funny 628 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: we we'd filled out that question or you had filled 629 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: it out for us when the questionnaire when you'd come 630 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: into town and we asked the guys with their favorite 631 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: holidays were, and you were the only Saint Patrick's Day 632 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: as a favorite holiday. So I was wondering where that 633 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 1: had stemmed from and why you look forward to it 634 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: so much. On the calendar. 635 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: My birthday is the day after, okay. 636 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 1: So lots of reasons to celebrate. 637 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 2: Yeah right, and my family's Irish okay. So it just 638 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 2: kind of having those two days back to back, it just. 639 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: It seems so obvious now, I guess I we finished 640 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: with a dumb question. Oh no, Well that's Chris Vallimont. 641 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for much for taking the time. I'm here to 642 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: talk with us on a ball. We really appreciate it. 643 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 1: Thank you all right, thanks again, and we'll be back 644 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: with more here on a ball with Eric's great thanks 645 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 1: so much. Can I appreciate it. Take care, joy the 646 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 1: rest of the day, and welcome back here on a 647 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: ball with Ericos. You just heard from the lumber Kings 648 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: opening day starter Chris Valamont, who had taken some time 649 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: to talk with us on a rainy day here in Clinton, 650 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: and a big thanks to him for doing that. Lumber 651 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: Kings team which as we record this on April the thirtieth, 652 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: a twelve and ten, which is tied for third in 653 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 1: the Midwest League, one game back of both the Burlington 654 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: Bees and the Kent County Cougars, right in the thick 655 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: of a playoff race as it stands right now, supposed 656 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: to be getting started against the Eastern Division, which is 657 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: a swing on the schedule that is supposed to last 658 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: two weeks but postponed here on the final day of April. 659 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: West Michigan white Caps, a single a affiliate of the 660 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: Detroit Tigers, a series that is set to end on 661 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 1: May the second, and then the South Bend Cubs, which 662 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 1: is going to be their first visit here to Clinton 663 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: since two thousand and sixteen. That is how the schedule 664 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 1: has worked so far, series that runs from Friday, May 665 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: third through Sunday May fifth. The Eastern Division swings will 666 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: then continue with the Dayton Dragons, a series that runs 667 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:46,960 Speaker 1: from May sixth through the eighth, and the Bowling Green 668 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,239 Speaker 1: Hot Rods from May ninth through the eleventh. Something that 669 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: we talked about with Vallamont on that interview if that 670 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 1: would be an issue at all, not having any of 671 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: the familiarity with teams the lumber Kings have not faced 672 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 1: so far, and he was very confident, as you should 673 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: be with a ninety seven mile prour fastball and telling 674 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: us that he's just trying to execute pitch by pitch 675 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,720 Speaker 1: and not really think about whether a good outing before 676 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 1: means success in this outing here. So it was kind 677 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 1: of interesting to get in between the ears, as they say, 678 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,760 Speaker 1: of a starting pitcher like Chris Vallomot, that Eastern Divisions 679 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,760 Speaker 1: swing ending after a league wide off day on Sunday 680 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 1: May the twelfth, usually used for travel, and we also 681 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: wanted to highlight some of the roster moves that had 682 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 1: occurred for the lumber Kings as of late. We briefly 683 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,360 Speaker 1: touched on the injury for Christopher Torres, which has placed 684 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,799 Speaker 1: him on the injured list, which was retroactive to Saturday, 685 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 1: April the twenty seventh. He was placed on the injured list, 686 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: which allowed the activation of a fellow infielder in Dmitria 687 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 1: sim So Sims with a very brief stint on the 688 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,960 Speaker 1: injured list only about seven days after he had been 689 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,759 Speaker 1: placed there, allowing for Sam Castro to be called up 690 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: from extended spring here to Clinton. Lumber Kings now have 691 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: two switch hitters, with Sam Kastro, a very speedy infielder 692 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,160 Speaker 1: that is now in town and he has been primarily 693 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 1: playing over at second base. A switch hitting Dominican native 694 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 1: twenty one years of twenty one years of age, five 695 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:15,879 Speaker 1: foot ten, one hundred and sixty pounds, he had spent 696 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: only two games in the GCL with the GCL Marlins 697 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 1: back in twenty eighteen, the Lion's share of his time 698 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 1: coming with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League. 699 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:27,880 Speaker 1: Sixty one games for Castro in that time, he batted 700 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: two sixty two with a home run twenty three RBIs 701 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: very speedy, also had six dolein bases as well. Sam 702 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: Castro has since stayed around with the injury to Christopher 703 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:42,439 Speaker 1: Torres Well, the lumber Kings will also be an action, 704 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,400 Speaker 1: of course, for all of these games throughout the summer, 705 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,279 Speaker 1: one hundred and thirty nine of them, following the cancelation 706 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 1: out in Quad Cities on Saturday, so we will shamelessly 707 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: plug our broadcast. Here can of course listen to all 708 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings games on one hundred point three FM 709 00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:01,759 Speaker 1: WCCI and online via the tune in radio app at 710 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 1: Lumberkings dot com if you're out of the broadcast range. 711 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: Chris Valamont's next start that you can hear if you're 712 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: unable to make it out to the ballpark will be 713 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:13,800 Speaker 1: on Saturday, May the fourth against the South bed Comes. 714 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 1: Vallamont will be in his sixth start of the season, 715 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:19,880 Speaker 1: and that will be with not yours truly on the broadcast. 716 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,799 Speaker 1: I will be on assignment next weekend, which is why 717 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:25,480 Speaker 1: I can tell you that next week we have already 718 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: got our guests selected. An interview that is in the can, 719 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,680 Speaker 1: as they say in the business. Connor Scott, the first 720 00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 1: round pick for the Miami Marlins in the twenty eighteen draft. 721 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:37,359 Speaker 1: He was kind enough to talk with us as well 722 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:39,799 Speaker 1: today and we'll be playing that interview for you on 723 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 1: episode number six, which will be next week here on 724 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: Fish Stripes. You can hear the next episode of A 725 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: Ball with Connor Scott on Wednesday, and we hope you 726 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: enjoy that one as much as you hopefully enjoy this one. 727 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 1: That will do it for episode five here of A 728 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 1: Ball with Eric Ohs. Thanks everyone for listening. Hopefully we'll 729 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,840 Speaker 1: see you out of a ballgame sometime this summer. If not, 730 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: we will see you on the radio for the broadcast, 731 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: and if that doesn't work out, we're always here to 732 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: talk a ball for the Miami Marlins here in the 733 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 1: Midwest League with the Clinton lumber Kings. Thanks everyone for 734 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:19,919 Speaker 1: listening and we'll talk to you next week.