1 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody? Welcome into another edition of Crush City Territory. 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: I'm Channeler Room, joined by Tyler Stafford and a very 3 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: special guest, the Pride of University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, AJ Bluebaugh, AJ, 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: fresh off of scoreless inning in the Ashers Great Fruit 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: League opener against the Washington Nationals. First of all, thank 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: you for joining us on a day you just pitched. 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: That's a that's a big ask for me. I appreciate 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: you fitness in But uh, how how is spring going 9 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: for you? And kind of had you feel today? And 10 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: how you how you kind of settling into West Palm 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: Beach second time around. 12 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 2: I mean it's great, you know, I've I've already made 13 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 2: a bunch of new friends. You know, obviously Spence being 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: a locker right next to mine. That's great. Me and 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: Spence get along, and then Mike Burrows on the other 16 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 2: side of me, and then a bunch of other guys 17 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: like Weiss and Carlson like it's really cool. And then 18 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: my couple of lockers down like it's cool. I always 19 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 2: see some old faces, but even better see some new faces. 20 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: And as far as the routine's going, it's uh, it's great. 21 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: And I love the getting up early, being done early schedule. 22 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 2: Obviously in the season it's a little different, but I 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: love getting up and the first thing I got for 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: the days baseball, Like it just fires me up, gets 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: me right out of bed. 26 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: I see. I feel like that's the opposite, is the 27 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 3: getting up early. That's everything fels like opposite for baseball people. 28 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 3: So you're you're a morning person when I. 29 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 2: Feel like when I need to be obviously in the season, 30 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: like I'm going to sleep in because you know, we 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: get done at the games at you know, ten, sometimes 32 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 2: eleven o'clock. So obviously that'll flip. But if it were 33 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: up to me, it'd be let's start the day with 34 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: baseball and get after it. 35 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: There you go, a j It's interesting, you know, I 36 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: was talking to I've been talking to a couple of 37 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: your teammates just in general, not about you specifically, but 38 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: just in general. And I think one of the coolest 39 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: things about you know what I do is I get 40 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: to see some of you guys, you know, from day one, 41 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: really from the first day you get into a big 42 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: league clubhouse until you know, I can remember it with 43 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: Hunter Brown, like I remember seeing Hunter at the Futures 44 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: game in twenty twenty two and now look at him. 45 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: But the cool thing is that I can see you 46 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: guys really blossom, not only on the field, but off 47 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: the field, maybe confidence wise and being kind of sure 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: of yourself. I'm just gonna tell you like you are 49 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: night and day from last year at this time in 50 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: spring training, when I don't want to be offensive, but 51 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: you kind of looked a little timid. You kind of 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: looked like you were kind of scared to say the 53 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 1: wrong thing. You didn't want to step on anybody's toes. 54 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: And this year you are just brimming with confidence. You're 55 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: you're carrying yourself with a lot more confidence. 56 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 4: How much of that is just. 57 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: You major big league debut, you you feel good, and 58 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: how much of that is just you know, you kind 59 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: of maturing And kind of what do you credit that to? 60 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: You know, when you say that, it takes me back 61 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: to my first camp in twenty twenty four and I 62 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 2: was definitely just not a shell of myself. You know, 63 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 2: I was very quiet, you know, just keep to myself, 64 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: you know, say hi when when I need to. But 65 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: I was pretty much just in my locker talking to 66 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: Hunter and Forest on either side, of me just asking 67 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: questions the entire time, and I was really just trying 68 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 2: to be a sponge because you know, it was it 69 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: was my second spring training. I was like, this is 70 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: this is crazy. I'm here, let me just take it 71 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: all in. And last year, I feel like I was 72 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: kind of right in the middle of the two where 73 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 2: you know, I recognize some faces, you know, spending a 74 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: whole year in triple A, like I started to understand 75 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: that there's there's more two baseball, and and I met 76 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: a lot of new people. And then this year, obviously 77 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: the year I had probably has something to do with it. 78 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: But on top of that, like that year's over, like 79 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: you can't go back and change it. You can't go 80 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: make it better, you can't go make it worse. Like 81 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: it's it's over. So really I'm just I'm trying to 82 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: be present where I'm at today and bill off of 83 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: you know, last year, and just learn more things. You 84 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: don't continue to be that sponge well, also just continue 85 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: to be myself. 86 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 3: So this is a point of contention between Chandler and I. 87 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: I know in college, what meant to what your junior 88 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: year that you really started at all? Is that correct? 89 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: Correct? 90 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 3: Okay, and then you know, starting in the minors, obviously 91 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 3: the ASTROS system does a lot of piggybacking and back 92 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: and forth and stuff like that. But you really became 93 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 3: more of a starter as you moved up through the 94 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: big leagues, and obviously you got a couple of starts 95 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 3: under your belt last year at the big league level. 96 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 3: Do you have an opinion on who you are as 97 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 3: a picture? Do you see yourself as a starter or 98 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 3: reliever or how does that play into kind of your 99 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 3: mental side. 100 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 2: I would say I see myself as a picture, and 101 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: I would probably leave it right about that. You know, 102 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: in college, I loved I fell in love with closing. Obviously, 103 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: It's really cool seeing Josh Hader locker room because we 104 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: were both closers in Milwaukee at the same time, and 105 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,359 Speaker 2: like I was like, man, how cool to be to 106 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: be a closer in the big leagues. Like the adrenaline 107 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: like that would just be unbelievable. But then coming up 108 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 2: through the ASTROS system, I also fell in love was starting. 109 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: You know. Obviously I did a little bit in college, 110 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: but it really wasn't the same because I was kind 111 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: of bouncing back and forth. But to be a shrewd 112 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: only starter. It's it's a routine aspect that you don't 113 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: get from from closing, and I loved it. I was like, 114 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: I know what I'm gonna pitch, I can do my prep. 115 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: I know who I'm gonna face one, I'm going to 116 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: face them, and I loved it. But after last year 117 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 2: is kind of it kind of proved to me, you know, 118 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 2: after starting for a lot of the year and then 119 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: at the end of the year it was like, all right, 120 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: you're gonna be in the bullpen. Do what we need 121 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: you to do. And I love that. It's it's that 122 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: fires me up just about as much as as being 123 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: one or the other. I would say, being what the 124 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: team needs me to be to win. I couldn't aswer 125 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: more than that, so that that would probably be my 126 00:05:58,560 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 2: answer to that question. 127 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: I've never even made that connection that that you were 128 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: probably where were you kind of in school when when 129 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: Josh Hater was the Brewers Closer and was that somebody 130 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: that you were like watching pretty intently. 131 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,119 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say I was watching intently, but I definitely 132 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 2: was following. I mean I was there from uh covid 133 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: so twenty twenty twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two, 134 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 2: and then I was drafted in twenty twenty two, so 135 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 2: it was it was right when he was he was 136 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: Josh Hater like, so that was it was super cool 137 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: and like, so I got a lot of buddies back 138 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: home being like or not home, but in Milwaukee, like, dude, 139 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: you're like Josh Hater pretty much. But in college it's 140 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: pretty cool. But obviously, like I got a lot of 141 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: work to do to get up to what he's done. 142 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 2: But it's it's really cool to make that connection there. 143 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 3: So what was what's your what's your walkouts on? What 144 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 3: are the lights going to be doing when you when 145 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 3: you come in? Surely you've thought about this. 146 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 2: I can't say I have. You know, I've had the 147 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 2: same walking since sophomore year of high school. 148 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: That's like, I mean, I don't even play baseball and 149 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 3: I've got mine picked out. That's ridiculous. 150 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: What are we doing right A J. 151 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: It's it's interesting, you know for me, obviously, you debuted 152 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: last year against the Tigers, and you know traditional start, 153 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: you come up, you know when you're gonna pitch. You 154 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: were on the taxi squad the day before and we 155 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: all kind of knew like that was kind of the 156 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: day you were going to pitch, and then you got 157 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: option the next day. But I think the outing for 158 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: me that that always sticks out when I kind of 159 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: think of your maturation. Was that outing in Miami? And 160 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: I don't I can't remember who started the game? I 161 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: probably should. 162 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: Who was it? Oh? 163 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: Yeah it was a bull Okay, so it was a 164 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: bullpen game. You were you were the bulk guy they 165 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: wanted Okre to get through. I would assume a pocket 166 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: of writing's at the top. But you come out and 167 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: I had I knew you could run it up to 168 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: about ninety six ninety seven. 169 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 4: I did not know you had ninety eight in you. 170 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 4: I didn't know you had ninety nine in you, and. 171 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: You just went out there short burst and you were, 172 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: for lack of a better word, just kind of bass 173 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: to the wall and really letting it eat. 174 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 4: Take me through that outing, and maybe was that outing. 175 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: The one for you that maybe allowed you to kind 176 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: of say, man, like I belong up here, like I 177 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: can get I can get hitters out. And I know 178 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: it's I know people are saying, oh it's the Marlins, 179 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: But when. 180 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 4: You guys rolled in there, the Marlins were about. 181 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: The hottest team in baseball when you guys rolled in 182 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: there and you absolutely shut them down. 183 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I would say to to start at 184 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: the Marlins game, I would have to go back a 185 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: little bit farther because after my debut, going back down, 186 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: it was it was rough for two months there that 187 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 2: May and June. It was I went through the ringer. 188 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: I was tested in more ways than I ever have 189 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: on a baseball field before and off a baseball field. 190 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I really learned that not only is it physical, 191 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: it's it's so mental and through through my faith, through 192 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: my family, through my girlfriend, like so many teammates, so 193 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 2: many people help me make your story, you know, Sean Bikinnan, 194 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: like all those guys in Tripa, they were with me 195 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: that whole time, and it was it was a journey. 196 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: But to finally have a good month in July, you know, 197 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: and then and then to get that call back up 198 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 2: to Miami, it was it was I was like I 199 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 2: knew I had to make a statement. I also knew, 200 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 2: like listen, like I understand the role. You know, it's 201 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: probably gonna get sent right down after this outing, but 202 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: you know, make them have to make a tough decision, 203 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: and you know, I feel like I did that to 204 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 2: the best of my ability. There was there was a 205 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: lot of adrenaline running through and and it was really 206 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: just like just trust the stuff, let it play, and 207 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: leave it all out on the field. You know. I 208 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: feel like sometimes I get in there and you know, 209 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: I feel like I get taken out and oh man, 210 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 2: you know I could have had another inning in there 211 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: and a couple more pitches. I want to I want 212 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 2: to start just giving everything. I have that moment and 213 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 2: you know, not looking you know, how am I going 214 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 2: to feel tomorrow? Like tomorrow doesn't matter if you don't 215 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 2: get through today, you know. So it's one of those things. 216 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 2: And it just happened to work out where I felt 217 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 2: really good, pitches were doing what I needed him to do, 218 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 2: and I got win out of it. 219 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 3: Did you have any moments last season when you know, 220 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 3: look good, the minor leagues are good, but it's it's 221 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 3: no major league hitters. Did you have any moments last 222 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: year where you're like, man, normally I'd get a chase 223 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 3: on this pitch nine times out of ten, and this 224 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 3: guy just sat on it. Or I can't believe this 225 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 3: guy turned on a pit. I've never seen anybody do that, 226 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 3: Like did you did you have any experiences like that 227 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 3: last season? Just like these guys are just different than 228 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 3: what I've seen before, or it could you know, it 229 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 3: could be the opposite of like, man, this this feels good, 230 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 3: Like this thing plays just as well as it does here, 231 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 3: you know, as it does in Corpus Christy. 232 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: I would say it's a little bit of both. Like 233 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: there were definitely times where I was like, man, like, great, 234 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 2: take like you know, I remember there was a Jake 235 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: Berger at bet in the Rangers outing and I ended 236 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: up striking him out, but there was an O two 237 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: fast ball. I threw it ninety seven at his eyes 238 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: up in a way and he fell that off and 239 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 2: I turned around. I was like, man, if he's getting 240 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: to that, But now it's more of like, you know, wow, 241 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: he got to that. But now my brain is more 242 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 2: going like there's no way he can get to a 243 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 2: sweeper down, So like's it's more of like, wow, these 244 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: guys are really good. But like if I trust my 245 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: stuff and my prep am my catcher, that there are 246 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 2: ways to get more than one ways to get people out, 247 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 2: and as long as you can recognize those in real time. 248 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: I feel like that was the mental change for me there. 249 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about you mentioned Mickey's story 250 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: and about how much Mick was. 251 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 4: Helpful to you. 252 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: I don't think a lot of people realize, like Micky, 253 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: Mickey was a pitcher, and very very few managers in 254 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: any sort of affiliated ball were pitchers. Usually you see 255 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: catchers that are managers. Usually you don't see pitchers that 256 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: are managers. Now, Craig Stammon's obviously that the padres manager now, 257 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: But what's that connection like having a manager that was 258 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: a pitcher and how beneficial maybe that for you? Because 259 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: I've talked to Mickey before and he says, you know, 260 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: when you were at Triple A, like you you kind 261 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: of just were next to it when you weren't pitching, kind 262 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: of sit next to him and constantly peppering in with questions, 263 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: maybe charting some times. Like what's that relationship like with 264 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: Mickey having a pitcher as your manager. 265 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 2: I mean, I can't say enough good things about Mickey. 266 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 2: He is truly a student of the game, and I 267 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 2: can respect that to the highest level because I true 268 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: want to be a student of the game and I 269 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 2: want to continue to grow my knowledge of the game 270 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: because I feel like, like I said earlier, I think 271 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 2: the mental side is just important as a physical but 272 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 2: it's it's super rewarding to have that opportunity to sit 273 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: next to him for over a year and a half 274 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 2: almost two years, where it's like I have a basically 275 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: a baseball encyclopedia sitting next to me for half the game, 276 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 2: and to be able to bounce things off to him. 277 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: And also not only does he know everything, he also 278 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 2: knows how to how to explain it to me in 279 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 2: a way that I can understand. And you know, even 280 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: when I was doing good, when I was doing bad, 281 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 2: he approached everything the same. He knew what I was 282 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 2: capable of, even if I didn't know what I was 283 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 2: capable of. And yeah, I mean, I don't think I 284 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: have the time in sugar Land that I did or 285 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: in the big leagues without Mickey's story. 286 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 3: So I think a lot of times people coming into 287 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 3: spring training have you know, ideas for this upcoming season. 288 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 3: A lot of times it's adding a new pitch or 289 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 3: tweaking things things like that. Oftentimes, especially with people who 290 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 3: have been relievers, it's coming in and saying like, oh, 291 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 3: I'm going to add a change up this year. That 292 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 3: is not the case with you. You have a very 293 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: good change up. You throw three pitches, you know, relatively frequently. 294 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 3: It's not like that's just a show me pitch. Do 295 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 3: you know how many hits you gave up on your 296 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 3: change up last year? 297 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 2: I heard the rumor, yes. 298 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 3: Zero for those of you keeping track at home. So 299 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 3: what do you do coming into so this season knowing 300 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 3: that you know you may be needed for spot starts. 301 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 3: You may be a bullpen guy, like you don't know 302 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: exactly your role yet, But what what are you really 303 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 3: focused on of trying to improve and get through a 304 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 3: whole one hundred and sixty two game season at the 305 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 3: big league level. 306 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 2: Well, I think I think you said it there. At 307 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: the end of the year, I really was only throwing 308 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: three pitches. Of course, I say only, But at the time, 309 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 2: if I'm coming out of the bullpen or I'm facing 310 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: a lineup one maybe two times through, I trusted myself 311 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: to be able to get out with my fast ball 312 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 2: sweeper and change it, especially the way I was able 313 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: to command them and throw them at the end of 314 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 2: the year. Obviously, you know I have a curve ball 315 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: and a cutter, it's there. So really I would say, 316 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 2: is it's just I don't want to say redefining those, 317 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 2: but making those more consistent. You know, if I can, 318 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: If I can throw five pitches instead of three, that's 319 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 2: just two more things that the hitters have to account for. 320 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: And if I don't throw those, that is as high 321 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 2: of A has my other two off speed pitches. That's fine. 322 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 2: But as long as you know I can, I can 323 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 2: show it. You know, if you know, maybe if I'm 324 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 2: throwing the curveball early in counts or the cutter middle counts, 325 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 2: like just to get them just to get off, you know, 326 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 2: the fastball sweeper and change up, I think that can 327 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: be super beneficial for me in more ways than one. 328 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: Agan, Let's talk about how you got here, because I 329 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: always love origin stories and I like, you know, the 330 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: great thing about baseball is you can find people anywhere, 331 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: Like you don't have to go to the big SEC school, 332 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: You don't have to go to the big big twelve, 333 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: big ten school, like, you can get noticed anywhere. 334 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 3: And your your. 335 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: Hometown Belleville, Ohio, what about two thousand people there, maybe 336 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: just under just under two. 337 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 4: Thousand people high school freshmen. 338 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: You're what like ninety pounds soaking wet, like you You're 339 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: not You're not the biggest guy in the world. You 340 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: certainly don't have the velocity you have now, How did 341 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: you get here? How did you get here? From from 342 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: small town Belleville, Ohio to Milwaukee, a place that, before 343 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: you stepped on campus and before you stepped onto a 344 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: big league mound last April had never produced a major 345 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: league picture, the first major league pictuer ever from University 346 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. 347 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 4: How did you get here? 348 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 2: That is a loaded question? Sorry, you're good, No, I mean, 349 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 2: I obviously have to start with with my faith and 350 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: how important that's been throughout my entire journey. Obviously, my 351 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 2: parents never telling me I couldn't do it. I think 352 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: that was the biggest thing. You know, there's there was 353 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 2: a lot of people that were just like, oh, yeah, 354 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: you know you want to be a big league picture? Cool, congrats? 355 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 2: What's what's playing? Beat? You know? And my parents supported 356 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: me all throughout my childhood. My mom she sacrificed every 357 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 2: summer from the time I was probably seven years old 358 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 2: to the time I was junior in high school, so 359 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 2: probably ten years there. Sacrificed every summer driving every weekend 360 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: to wherever I needed to be, my dad playing catch 361 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: with me throughout the weeks, brother and sisters, Like my 362 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 2: sisters are coming in with me during the off seasons 363 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 2: to throw against the net and they tossed the ball back. 364 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 2: And my brothers played with football with me from the 365 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 2: time we could walk to the time even recently. So 366 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: it's the family and it starts there. But you know, 367 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 2: coming up through high school, I really didn't pitch. I 368 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: was a catcher. I was an infielder. I was an outfielder. 369 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: I think junior year of high school, I threw seven innings. 370 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 2: I caught every other inning for my high school team, 371 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 2: and then I started I was. I was with a 372 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 2: good summer ball team after junior year and the summer 373 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: of sophomore year. Pretty funny actually, I was catching like 374 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 2: I do and and I took a two seam right 375 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: off the thumb fractured it. So I'm in a hard 376 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 2: cast halfway through summer, and I was messing around one 377 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 2: day and my glove I had had an old glove 378 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: and it fit over the hard cast was wrapped up 379 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: all of my thumb and I was like, I wonder, 380 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 2: So I walked up to my coach and I was 381 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 2: like hey, and I showed him. I was like, Cai, 382 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 2: still pitch. He's like, you need your mouse permission, we 383 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: need the umpire permission, and we need opposing team's permission. 384 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: I was like, all right, you know why I got 385 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: a baby blue clatt cast. But we'll see if we 386 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: can get permission. And sure enough, we were able to 387 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 2: get permission, and I really got into pitching. I started 388 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 2: messing around with three arm slots, so from overtop, side 389 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 2: arm and submarine, just so much fun. I had a blast. 390 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 2: And then junior year summer ball, I really took a 391 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 2: deep dive. And my summer ball coach, who is now 392 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 2: my agent, he he kind of built me up. I 393 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 2: think when I saw him the summer of the the 394 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 2: winter of my freshman year, I threw a bullpen and 395 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 2: I think I topped out at sixty eight. And that 396 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: the summer after junior year, I hit eighty nine in 397 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: front of Milwaukee after throwing a three arm slot bullpen 398 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 2: for the whole and I threw that the whole summer. 399 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 2: I was throwing every pitch from every arm slot, just knuckleballs, everything. 400 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 2: Just a junk ball pitcher. And I hit eighty nine 401 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 2: and that was like. Coach Bigler, the pitching coach Milwaukee, 402 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: was there to watch me throw that bullpen. He offered 403 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 2: me a visit right after. I love Milwaukee, and yeah, 404 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 2: they they gave me a scholarship. You know I had. 405 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: They were my only Division one. I had a couple 406 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 2: of D two's, a couple of D threes, but it 407 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: was like, you know what, my goals always played baseball 408 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 2: at the highest level, and ultimately I chose Milwaukee and 409 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 2: then obviously freshman year COVID cut it short. But I 410 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 2: remember my first bullpen at Milwaukee fall. I topped out 411 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 2: at eighty two. I'll never forget that one, and I'll 412 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 2: still throwing from three arm slots. They're still like, you know, 413 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 2: I tried being only submarine for a while, only side 414 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: on for a while, trying all three for a while. 415 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 2: It really wasn't until the winter of twenty nineteen to 416 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 2: twenty twenty that switch. Right there's Scott Dolphick and Coach Bigler. 417 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 2: They came up to me were like, hey, we think 418 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 2: he could be good at all three or he could 419 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 2: be great at one. I was like, whatever, you guys think, 420 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 2: you know more than me. Tell me what to do, 421 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 2: I'll do it. So like, let's go over top's let's 422 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 2: focus on that. And that winter I hit ninety miles 423 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: an hour for the first time. It was a big day. 424 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 2: And then these it starts and then boom COVID And 425 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 2: for me personally, I know it really hurt a lot 426 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 2: of guys, but I think it was really good for 427 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 2: me because I went I went back home. I basically 428 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 2: locked myself, me and my brother in our basement. We 429 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,239 Speaker 2: had a couple of little weight set down there and 430 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 2: we just got after it. I just put on I 431 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: put on thirty pounds in three months when I got 432 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 2: to college, and it was not pretty. But yeah, it 433 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 2: wasn't pretty, but you know, then I had I had 434 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 2: a base to work with, and COVID kind of gave 435 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 2: me time to kind of filter that down and too 436 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 2: kind of grow into that. And then I played in 437 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 2: a local summer ball league and I had a blast. 438 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: It was great, but I really I gained a lot 439 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 2: of confidence with them. 440 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 4: Great. 441 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 2: Not throwing the hardest right now, but I'm seeing ways 442 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 2: to get people out and things kind of working out there. 443 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: And we go back to school and it was started 444 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 2: out you know, right around ninety you know, ninety one, 445 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 2: maybe in ninety two, and I'm like, all right, you know, 446 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 2: you're getting there. And then by the winter of my 447 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: sophomore year, I got up to ninety five, just dialing 448 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: it in. I had one of my buddies. I was 449 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 2: benching three times a week with one of my buddies. 450 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 2: I was biking three times a week with another buddy 451 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 2: I was swimming with and it was just like I 452 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 2: put all my time just you know, obviously school it's important. 453 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 4: But not anymore. 454 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Hey, I'm doing this. 455 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 3: Did you finish the elementary education degree? Did did we 456 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:21,959 Speaker 3: get certified? 457 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 2: I got about a year and a half left. There's 458 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 2: there's a student teaching stuff that I still got a 459 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,880 Speaker 2: hand round. But I love I love teaching. Maybe maybe 460 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: one day, but. 461 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 3: I was, I was a teacher back in the day. 462 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 3: So I'm with you. 463 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: I'm really liking the job I have now. 464 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. Okay. So what I'm hearing though, is, uh, you 465 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,880 Speaker 3: do have a side arm knuckleball in there somewhere. I 466 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: can we get one in a spring train. I just 467 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 3: want to see one come out there. 468 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 2: You know what, you get permission for me and I 469 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 2: will do it. 470 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 3: Okay, deal, I'll work on that side. I need one 471 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 3: to just come out of nowhere, all right? 472 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 4: How does it Andrew? 473 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: How does it hit you when you hear were like 474 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: you are the only major league pitcher to ever come 475 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: out of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Like you're the 476 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: only person that has ever done something out of that 477 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: baseball program. 478 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 4: Like how does that hit you? 479 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 2: It hits hard because you know, I I owe everything 480 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 2: to Milwaukee like they they took me when obviously not 481 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 2: a lot of teams would. I can't, I couldn't can 482 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 2: couldn't thank Scottie Biggs and and Weggs enough for for 483 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 2: giving me that shot when no one else did. And 484 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 2: you know, I maybe I could have you know, done 485 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 2: more hopefully or I wish we could have won more games, 486 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 2: you know, made a made a playoff push and made 487 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 2: a regional that'd been amazing. But but to meet the 488 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 2: people that I did there, and and obviously you know, 489 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 2: coming out as you know, one of the only or 490 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,959 Speaker 2: the only person to to make my MLB debut as 491 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 2: a pitcher, that's that's very special because that that school did, 492 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: it did so much for me. 493 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 3: Go ahead, Chandler, mind is less important. 494 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: I was let to say, you talked about all this 495 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: and you never mentioned the bees, because I think that's 496 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: I think that's the one thing that that that everyone 497 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: is kind of you know, knows you for and it's 498 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: an endearing trait that that one thing you do do 499 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: when you go home is your dad. 500 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 4: Reggie is a is a beekeeper. He's an amateur beekeeper. 501 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 4: It's one of a comb. And you guys make honey? 502 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: Did that can now that you're a big leaguer, now 503 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 1: that you can technically big league your dad if you 504 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: wanted to, will you still be making honey? And will 505 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: you still be helping him move hives? Will you still 506 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: be putting on the bee suits and duct taping all 507 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: the all the sleeves and things of that nature. 508 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 2: When you say that one of the first things I 509 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: did that might being the guy that he is, will 510 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 2: do anything for anyone. We there was a swarm now 511 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 2: the family friend's house and we had to basically make 512 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 2: a contraption on a fallen off tree that bees were inside, 513 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 2: to basically put a cap on the falling off tree 514 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 2: so that the bees could survive throughout the winter. So 515 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 2: for a couple of days, there we were, he was 516 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 2: putting on the bees suit. I was more of a helper. 517 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: For some reason, people were scared about me getting on ladders. 518 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: I don't understand why, but it's really cool. I think. 519 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 2: I think it's not only the bees, but it's it's 520 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 2: seeing what my dad would do for anyone. I think 521 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 2: that's the bigger the moral lesson there is someone asked 522 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 2: him to do something and he went out of his way, 523 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 2: sacrificing many nights, staying up late trying to figure out 524 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 2: different ways to winterize a tree that fell in half. 525 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 2: You know, he's he's just spitballing things to me like like, 526 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: who does that? But my dad? He would do anything 527 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 2: for anyone. And and that's what I'm choosing to take 528 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 2: out of all that. 529 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 3: So how many times two years ago when there was 530 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 3: a bee delay Chase Field in Arizona, did you get 531 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 3: sent that video? 532 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 2: I think I got tagged in a couple of times. 533 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 2: My mom sent me and she was like, you seeing 534 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 2: this stuff. 535 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 3: Dude, that's the dream now. I I kind of want 536 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 3: it to happen at a game that you're at now, 537 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 3: so we get to see you run out there and 538 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 3: take care of the bees. 539 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 2: That would be that would be something else. They really 540 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 2: want to attack you unless you make them mad. 541 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 3: Well, I will trust you on that, and I will 542 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 3: stay far far away from the swarm of bees. I 543 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 3: will call in the experts. Did you bring honey to 544 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 3: West Palm Beach with you? It is? It is on 545 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 3: the way there we go, Chandler asking for it. I 546 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 3: need I need a review, Chandler. So I need to 547 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 3: get your hands. 548 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I never had any last year. I just saw it. 549 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: It was all over the clubhouse like everyone wanted some. 550 00:26:55,240 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 3: Okay, I have one other silly question for you. Who 551 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 3: picked your uniform number? 552 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 2: Why? No? 553 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 3: From talking through it to you for twenty five minutes, 554 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 3: you do not seem like the type of guy that 555 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 3: walks in your rookie year and says, hey, my name 556 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 3: is blue Ball. I would like number sixty nine. So 557 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 3: I want to know walk me through. When you walk in, 558 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 3: do they unveil it to you? Are they laughing? Like? 559 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 3: How did this happen? 560 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 2: Yeah? So twenty twenty four spring training, coming to my 561 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 2: first big league camp, show up day one and I 562 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: get to my locker and there it is. And that's 563 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 2: the story. You know, I didn't ask for it. Uh, 564 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 2: no one told me beforehand. It was just there. And 565 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 2: you know, I'd love to love to have a conversation 566 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 2: with the clubbies like is this like chuckle to yourself 567 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 2: or maybe you know whose decision it is for numbers? 568 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 2: But I don't know if it was just something like that. 569 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: But no, I mean it's it's funny. You know. I 570 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 2: always growing up, I was like, oh, I have to 571 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: be this number, you know, superstitionalist stuff. But I've had 572 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 2: so many numbers now. It's it's one of those things 573 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 2: where I feel like, uh, you know, they're bigger things, 574 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 2: but it is. It is funny. I get a lot 575 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 2: of people get a kick out of it. 576 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 3: And I mean that's that's gold in the team store too, 577 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,479 Speaker 3: Like you need to get residuals off of off of 578 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 3: that for sure. But I mean, look, these poor clubbies, 579 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 3: they don't get a lot of opportunity to do this. 580 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 3: I mean that that does not that does not come 581 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 3: across your desk often of Hey, I got this guy 582 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 3: named blue Ball, we need to give him a number. 583 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 3: And they got to just throw it right at you 584 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 3: and you've you've taken it in stride, and so I 585 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 3: it is important that we got that. That's the one 586 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 3: bit of journalism I needed to do today, is how 587 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 3: did we come across this number? 588 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? No, it goes on you for sure. 589 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: The last number sixty nine that I remember before you 590 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: was JB. Bukowskis And it's something about the last names 591 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: man like JB. Bukalskis wearing sixty nine and then you 592 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: now having that number is it's something else. 593 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 4: But you know what they say. 594 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: You know, as you get, as you get more established, 595 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: and as you get your foothold into the big lees, 596 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: you get to pick your own numbers. 597 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 3: So better Now you're stuck with that one now too bad? 598 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 4: What would like if you if you could what was 599 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 4: your number in college? 600 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 2: Seventeen? 601 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 4: Okay? Who has that now? Oh? 602 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: Kaywai Tang, Yeah he has that now. Now that we're 603 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: talking about guys in the clubhouse, like you did mention 604 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: earlier that that your locker is next or not right 605 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: next to you have Spencer Arraghatty right next to you, 606 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: and then on the side of Spence. On the other 607 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: side of Spencer is Tatsuya Emi. Tatsuya has kind of 608 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: been the main attraction this camp just because there's a 609 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: lot of just a lot of people interested in him. 610 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: It's it's a new thing for the Astros. It's a 611 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: new thing for the Astros to have someone coming straight 612 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: over from MPB. They have not had many Japanese born 613 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: players play here. What have you gotten to know about him? 614 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: Being that close to him in the clubhouse? What have 615 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 1: you gotten to know about just kind of the way 616 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: he goes about his business? And I know there were 617 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: a couple of mornings I've seen that you've been trying 618 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: to learn some Japanese. 619 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 4: I know that they're trying. 620 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: The team as a whole is trying to learn a 621 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 1: couple of Japanese words a day to help out. 622 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 4: To communicate with Tetsuyo. 623 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: But what's it been like to be his locker maid 624 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 1: and to get to know him these first couple of 625 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: weeks in camp? 626 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean you can obviously tell he's very professional. 627 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 2: Like I could tell he's been doing this for a while. 628 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: He's younger than I thought he was, like for his 629 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 2: the maturity that he has, I was very shocked. What 630 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 2: is he twenty seven somewhere around there? 631 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: He sounds right, Yeah I should I should probably know this, 632 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: but yeah, he's Yeah, he's twenty So he turns twenty 633 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: eight in May. 634 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 2: Right, So, yeah, to to find out he's twenty seven 635 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 2: with after seeing how mature he is and how he 636 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 2: goes about his business, that was that was super cool. 637 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 2: But yeah, also just I can tell he really wants 638 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 2: to be here, like he wants to be a part 639 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 2: of the American culture and and really just kind of 640 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 2: dive in, Like I talked to him. I've asked him 641 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 2: about the food, like what's the food difference, and obviously 642 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 2: there's there was a big difference, Like the portion sizes 643 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: here in America are obviously way bigger. And I haven't 644 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 2: gotten too much. I kind of want to break the 645 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: ice with you know, just regular stuff. I haven't really 646 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 2: dabbled into any pitching sort of things. But I mean, 647 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: after watching him throw the first time, it's just you 648 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 2: can tell like he is he is a professional, and 649 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 2: the way he goes about his business, the control that 650 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: he has, it's it's very impressive. He does it at 651 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 2: a high level. And the n Yeah, about about learning Japanese, 652 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 2: it's just it blows my mind how different like there's 653 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 2: there's you can't really like it's English and Spanish. There's 654 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: a lot of words that are close where you know, 655 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 2: I could communicate with some Latin guys. You know, I 656 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 2: don't know a ton of Spanish, but I know enough 657 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 2: to communicate. But with Japanese and Mandarin to English, in 658 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 2: that whole triangle there is almost zero similarities. So it 659 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 2: is it is very difficult. But I feel like if 660 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 2: I start out with some words, some phrases, you know, 661 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 2: slowly just start to break the ice, I feel like 662 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 2: I can. And then obviously you know, his his translator Rio, 663 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 2: He's been great. I've talked to him with and without 664 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 2: Emai too, So just I feel like just learning about 665 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 2: the little things first, and then hopefully one day we 666 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 2: can we can take a deep dive during a game 667 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 2: and just kind of talk and learn more about the game. 668 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 2: Through through his his journey. 669 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 3: At least you got the universal language of walking up 670 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 3: with the baseball and saying show me how you grip, 671 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 3: Show how you grip your change up. That that translates 672 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 3: no matter what language. 673 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: Definitely were you among that massive crowd. I think it 674 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: was yesterday on field too that was that wash is live? 675 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:01,959 Speaker 2: Absolutely? 676 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: Would you The slider specifically, I think was the thing 677 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: that got a lot of people. The split Obviously, you 678 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: know a lot of people like the split, but the 679 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,959 Speaker 1: slider just because it doesn't move away from writings, it 680 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: naturally backs up to right handed hitters. 681 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 4: That was a very interesting thing. 682 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: I mean, al Tuve even said like that was what 683 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: he swung and missed at and he said he laughed 684 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: because the pitch was just so good. 685 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, I mean, it's it's different for sure, Like 686 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: I was just trying to figure out the physics behind it. 687 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 2: Me and Spencer sitting there, like, how can you hold 688 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 2: a ball and throw a slider and make it go 689 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 2: the other way? Obviously that's that's the baseball mind of me, 690 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: but then the just the human being in me is like, 691 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 2: that's awesome how he's able to repeat that at such 692 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 2: a high clip. Because that's that's the biggest thing, is consistency. 693 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 2: And obviously by watching him you can see how consistent 694 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 2: he is, just you know, with his locations, with the 695 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 2: way he goes about his business, his timing on his delivery, 696 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: Like that was his first outing. It looks like he's 697 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 2: been throwing for four months already. Like that's that's what 698 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 2: I noticed. Obviously. I hope I can see some more 699 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 2: of that pitch soon, and I don't know if it's 700 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 2: it's in my future, but I know it's in his 701 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 2: and it's fun to watch and I'm glad he's on 702 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:15,280 Speaker 2: my team. 703 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,359 Speaker 3: I feel like the first time after watching him, if 704 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 3: I'm playing catch, just down the you know the foul lines, 705 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 3: I'm trying that hesitation move. Did you did you go 706 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 3: into it? Did you try to kind of balance yourself 707 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 3: in the in the middle of. 708 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 2: That right now? I mean, my my timing days are over. 709 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 2: I think that was another thing I did with the 710 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,759 Speaker 2: three arms slots is I would cross fire big on one, 711 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 2: i'd pause on another one. 712 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 3: That was fun trying everything. 713 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 2: That was fun when you're throwing eighty five, But if 714 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 2: you're trying to throw ninety five plus, you gotta you 715 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 2: either got to be a really special arm talent or 716 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 2: just just have the consistent delivery. And we'll state that. 717 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 3: There you go. 718 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:57,839 Speaker 4: Well, Aj, this was great. 719 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 1: We really appreciate you taking a way more time than 720 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: I anticipated taking from you. 721 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 4: But it was great. 722 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: But before we let you go, you said you've alluded 723 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 1: to it, that you want it to be in your future. 724 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 1: I guess as you look at this coming season, as 725 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: you look at the next five weeks of spring training. 726 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 4: What are your goals? What are your goals for this season? 727 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 1: Because obviously, like the answer for the last like six 728 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 1: springs for you has been pretty consistent, Right, make the 729 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 1: big leagues. 730 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 4: Well, you've done that. 731 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:28,879 Speaker 1: What are your goals now that you've gotten a taste 732 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 1: of the big league life you ended last. 733 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 4: You have shown you can succeed at the big leagues. 734 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:35,880 Speaker 1: I think throwing twenty two and a third scoreless innings 735 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: to end the season shows that you can succeed in 736 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: the big leagues. But what are your goals going into 737 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:42,200 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six. 738 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 2: You're not going to like my answer, but I would 739 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 2: say my goal is to not look too far into 740 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 2: the future. I feel like last year I was I 741 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 2: was striving so much to get back to the big 742 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 2: leagues when I got optioned the first time that I 743 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:00,759 Speaker 2: missed where I was in tripa A, And I feel like, 744 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 2: if I don't take care of business, you know, I 745 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 2: just pitched, so tomorrow, if I don't take care of 746 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 2: business and I and I hammer my catch play and 747 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 2: I have a good lift and I do my conditioning, 748 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 2: and if I don't do that, then five months down 749 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 2: the road doesn't mean anything. So I know that's not 750 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 2: the answer you're looking for, but that's really how I'm 751 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 2: approaching the season. And I feel like if I can 752 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,880 Speaker 2: get carried away, if I start to be like what 753 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:28,720 Speaker 2: if this? What if this? You know? So that's pretty 754 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:31,240 Speaker 2: much it like, take care of business, get one percent 755 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:35,360 Speaker 2: better every day, and to take advantage of every opportunity 756 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 2: that the Good Lord gives me. 757 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:38,879 Speaker 4: Tyler, he really is a big leaguer. 758 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: I know he's giving. He's giving me answers I don't 759 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: want to hear. He really is a big leaguer. 760 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 3: Now, yeah, that's impressive. You got there. You got there. 761 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,439 Speaker 3: I mean, look, six years ago, you're in the middle 762 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,839 Speaker 3: of COVID lifting weights in your basement, throwing eighty two. 763 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,360 Speaker 3: So I think whatever you've been doing, I would stick 764 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,359 Speaker 3: with that because it has clearly worked for you so far. 765 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,320 Speaker 4: Real quick, real quick. 766 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,840 Speaker 1: You So you you played college in Milwaukee, you you 767 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,399 Speaker 1: were You're from Ohio. Who is your NBA team? Because 768 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:10,239 Speaker 1: you were a basketball you were also a basketball player 769 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 1: in high school. You've got you've got a sister that 770 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: plays college basketball. You do like basketball as well? Who's 771 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 1: your NBA t. 772 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:25,919 Speaker 2: The Calves the Calves or Lebron I mean, I'll say that, yeah, 773 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 2: but uh, Adam, Indians, well Guardians, Calves and Browns. 774 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 4: I'm very sorry. 775 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,279 Speaker 2: I'm also in how State fans. That makes up for 776 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:39,800 Speaker 2: the Browns. 777 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:41,240 Speaker 4: That does make up for the Browns. 778 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:44,040 Speaker 3: What's the what's the best ride at Cedar Point? 779 00:37:47,719 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 2: Probably, I mean if it's not the top thrill drags 780 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 2: or it would be the Millennium Force, I mean the 781 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 2: top throw drafts or is I mean, that's the fastest 782 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 2: ride in the world. I'm pretty sure, So I can't 783 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 2: really top that one. 784 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 3: I'm with you. That's a that's a full one I made. 785 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 3: I made the trip up to Ohio in college and 786 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:09,279 Speaker 3: spent an entire day just running around there. So I'm 787 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,399 Speaker 3: very jealous of you living close enough that you can 788 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 3: have an opinion on what the best best ride is. 789 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:16,439 Speaker 2: Right. 790 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 4: Well, aj again, this was great. I apologize. 791 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 1: I'm sorry that you're a Browns fan, but it'll get 792 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: better at some point. 793 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 4: But this was awesome. 794 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,319 Speaker 1: Appreciate you taking some time in spring training again on 795 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:34,080 Speaker 1: a day that you pitched to join us. 796 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:34,760 Speaker 4: This was awesome. 797 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:39,680 Speaker 1: But everyone, we'll be back next week. I am leaving 798 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:43,120 Speaker 1: West Palm beach tomorrow, but we'll be back. We'll still 799 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: be talking spring training and stuff next week. Until then, 800 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: you can follow me on Exit Chandler Underscore Room. You 801 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:48,800 Speaker 1: can follow Tyler at Tyler C. 802 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:49,280 Speaker 4: Stafford. 803 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,080 Speaker 1: Please rate and review us on Apple and Spotify. Can 804 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:54,320 Speaker 1: subscribe to the YouTube channel so you can get notified 805 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:57,280 Speaker 1: anytime that we host a new video like this one 806 00:38:57,360 --> 00:38:58,240 Speaker 1: with AJ Blueball. 807 00:38:58,280 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 3: AJ. 808 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 4: This was awesome. Thank you very much much and to everyone, 809 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:02,920 Speaker 4: we will talk to you soon. Thanks for watching. 810 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:28,800 Speaker 3: Bye,