1 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: Hello, everyone, and welcome to a Ball with eric Os. 2 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: I am eric Os, and it is good to have 3 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: you with us. For what is episode number eleven is? 4 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: This week we'll be chatting with one of the lumber 5 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: Kings bullpen options and left hander Alex Vesia, something that 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: of course will be joking with them about because well, 7 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: we're always told that characters are found in the bullpen. 8 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: They also tell us that characters tend to be left handed. 9 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: In Vessia, he checks off a couple of boxes he 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: has taken in the seventeenth round of the twenty eighteen 11 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: draft by the Miami Marlins out of cal State East Bay, 12 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: a San Diego native that he'll be talking about as 13 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: kind of an older influence on a younger team for 14 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings, Vessia twenty three years of age and 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: mentioning just some of the nineteen year olds on the 16 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: team that he could relate to it because it was 17 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: something he felt like he was going through and he 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: was moving from San Diego out into northern California, which 19 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,639 Speaker 1: he described as far different, but also something he wanted 20 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: to try just to sort of become in his own 21 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,199 Speaker 1: man and Bessia, we thank him for taking the time 22 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: to talk with us, as we do record this on 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: a June tenth, which is after the lumber Kings suffering 24 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: some pretty rough losses against the Burlington Bees the single 25 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: a affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. For our sakes, 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: yesterday June ninth, it was a rough one. Lumber Kings, 27 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: for the first time since June first of nineteen ninety nine, 28 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: swept in a double header by the Bees. They had 29 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: fallen in Game one by a score of four to three, 30 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: and then dropped a two to one decision in the 31 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: following contest. And it was ugly losses for the lumber 32 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: Kings here in this series, really even an ugly win 33 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: that they had had back on June the eighth, which 34 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: was a night contest against the Burlington Bees. Now the 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: lumber Kings would win that game. They had a six 36 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: run rally in the seventh in which the offense exploded. 37 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: They had four home runs won from different players. He 38 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: had Marcos Rivera, Christopher Torres, Sean Reynolds, and Jerar and 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: Carnacion on the home runs. They turned their first triple 40 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: play in over twenty years. It came in the eighth 41 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: inning with the bases loaded, and then the lumber Kings 42 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: also had walked eleven batters. In that it tied a 43 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: season high for free passes that had been issued. We 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: touched on it briefly last episode, but the lumber Kings 45 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: had been one of the stingiest pitching steps in the 46 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Midwest League when it had come to the free passes. 47 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: That has changed, and it has changed in a rather 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: convincing way. We mentioned the eleven walks on June the eighth, well, 49 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: the night before that, the series opener, where you wouldn't 50 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: think a whole lot of walks would be issued when 51 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings turned the ball over to their ace 52 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: and Chris Vallomont, but he turned in another rough starting 53 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,679 Speaker 1: a Valamont, only lasting two and a third innings. Back 54 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: on the seventh, which was a Friday here in Burlington, 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: he walked five batters during his time out. Lumber Kings 56 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: pitching would then combine to walk ten, so as it 57 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 1: stands for the Clinton lumber Kings with the eleven walks 58 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: they then issued. The following night on Saturday, they issued 59 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: seven walks in the first game of the doubleheader, and 60 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: then the following game, which was Game two, of the 61 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: doubleheader they had issued three. So walks have been all 62 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: over the place for Clinton so far. It's why the 63 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: games have been pretty long. They had played the longest 64 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: seven inning contest of the season, they played the longest 65 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: nine inning contest of the year as well, and it's 66 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: been the free passes. As we mentioned, the only win 67 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: of the series thus far for the lumber Kings kind 68 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: of an ugly one, but they had lots of highlights 69 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: to overcome the eleven walks that had been issued. I 70 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: mean home runs from Gerar and Carnacione and Sean Reynolds. 71 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: They were pretty impressive. And we should highlight Reynolds for 72 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: a second because his home run, which if you have 73 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: not been out to Burlington at Community Field, kind of 74 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: an older ballpark built in nineteen forty seven. They've got 75 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: a really big scoreboard in right center field and Reynolds, 76 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: for the second time this season, it went over the 77 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: scoreboard here in Burlington. There's been a couple of rosa 78 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: trees behind it, and it went somewhere into those trees 79 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: after we had lost sight of it. I don't know why, 80 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: but the right fielder in that instance, Nonie Williams, he 81 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: had jogged over like maybe he could make a play 82 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: on it. He was off by about one hundred feet. 83 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: Has it cut over the scoreboard for another monster smash 84 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: for Sean Reynolds, his ninth home run of the season. 85 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: That's leading the team in big Flies. Also, we wanted 86 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: to highlight as well Jeraran Carnacion. He had the third 87 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: home run of the contest for the lumber Kings in 88 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: that win on Saturday night, June eighth, and he will 89 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: be in the Home Run Derby in the Midwest League. 90 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: We wish the best of luck to Juraran Carnacion in 91 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: that derby because well, last year the lumber Kings did 92 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: have a participant and things did not go very well. 93 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: They had Ryan Costello, who was then a Seattle Mariners prospect, 94 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: into the derby as one of the lumber Kings All Stars. 95 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: He didn't hit any home runs. And this year they 96 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: have upped the annie. Literally, the winner of the Home 97 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: Run Derby in the Midwest League will be winning one 98 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: thousand dollars when they do have that derby the day 99 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: before the All Star Game, which is going to be 100 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: on June the seventeenth, a Monday. Then the All Star 101 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: Game will follow on Tuesday out in South Bend, where 102 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: the Cubs will be hosting at four wins Field. Lumbert 103 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: Kings will have three representatives in the All Star Game. 104 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: Jararan Carnacion will be the only starter among them, but 105 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: a couple of pitchers as well well. Deserved honors for 106 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: humberts On Mehea and Chris Vallamont. So we mentioned Vallamont 107 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: has turned in his two shortest starts of this season, 108 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: but it's safe to say he has been one of 109 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings' best starting pitchers in twenty nineteen. And 110 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: Humbert's O Mehia, he just continues to throw the ball well. 111 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: It was a truly dominant month of May for humberts 112 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: On Mehia, and it's not as if the month of 113 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: April was all that bad either. He got one in 114 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: oh with a three point four to eight earned run average, 115 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: so rather impressive. But then in May everything really just 116 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: clicked for Mehia four and oh a one point five 117 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: to seven earned run average. It was over thirty four 118 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: to thirty inings of work. First outing in June, not 119 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,559 Speaker 1: too bad either. He went six innings, didn't allow any runs, 120 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: four hits were surrendered, He walked one and struck out six. 121 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: Me. 122 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: He is a very easy guy to get along with. 123 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: The always jokes with me that I need to get 124 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: ready to call a perfect game and a no hitter 125 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: because he says it is coming. He has promised great 126 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: things before his final outing in the first half. Unfortunately 127 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings in twenty nineteen, that first half 128 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: will be meaning no playoffs. Now they're not mathematically eliminated 129 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: as we record this again on June the tenth, but 130 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings have fallen off after dropping three out 131 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: of four from the Burlington Bees, who currently sit in 132 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: the wild card spot in the Western Division. Lumber Kings 133 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: coming into the action on June tenth, they are currently 134 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 1: sitting five and a half games out at first and 135 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: there's only about a week left of baseball. The season, 136 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: or first half rather, will be coming to an end 137 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: for the lumber Kings in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, June 138 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: the sixteenth, and that will be it, so not a 139 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: whole lot of baseball left in the first half. The 140 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: lumber Kings will finish this series with the B's, then 141 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: they take on the Puria Chiefs for a series that 142 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: will run from Tuesday, the eleventh of June through the thirteenth, 143 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,799 Speaker 1: a Thursday, and then in Cedar Rapids on Friday the fourteenth, 144 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: and it ends on Sunday the sixteenth. Those are all 145 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: the games that are left in the first half. Then 146 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 1: after the lumber Kings will have the All Star break, 147 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: which I imagine many players are looking forward two. They 148 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: will be resuming the season with the first game of 149 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: the second half on the road against the Wisconsin tim Bratlers, 150 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: the Single A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, on a Thursday, 151 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: June at twentieth, so really getting towards the last latter 152 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: half here of the first half, and then the second 153 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: half begins in the Single A level. What that'll mean 154 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: is a fresh slate for the lumber Kings. The two 155 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,679 Speaker 1: teams that will make the playoffs will then no longer 156 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: have anything to play for in the regular season. They'll 157 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: be locked into those playoff positions. Whether the Bes had 158 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: one the division, which is not looking very likely four 159 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: and a half games back of the Quad Cities River Bandits, 160 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: but it wouldn't matter whether you're a wild card winner 161 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: and you win the division in the second half, it 162 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: doesn't affect anything. You're still the wildcard winner. It's whatever 163 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: you claim first in the postseason race in the Midwest League. 164 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: And so the lumber Kings will see an eight team division, 165 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: but only six teams competing for two playoff spots in 166 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: the second half, and as we said, they'll likely be 167 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: one of them, not mathematically eliminated, but technically or nearly 168 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: technically eliminated from this playoff discussion. When we come back, 169 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: it's going to be Alex Vessia who joins us one 170 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: of the lumber Kings bullpen options. We thank him for 171 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: taking the time to talk with us. He had chatted 172 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: with us before the contest out here in Burlington. We 173 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: just decided to have a couple of more games to 174 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: talk about before we brought on our full report card 175 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: of the Clinton lumber Kings. Miami Marlin single A affiliate. 176 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: Alex Vesia joins us. Next on a ball with Eric Ohs. 177 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back on a ball with Eric Os. We're now 178 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: joined by one of the lumber Kings relievers, Alex Vesia. 179 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us out 180 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: here in Burlington. 181 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 182 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: Thank you, we should say. Recording this on June eighth. 183 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: This is a Saturday night lumber Kings will be taken 184 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: on the Burlington b a is later tonight. Vesia one 185 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: of the left handed options in the bullpen for the 186 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: Clinton lumber Kings. They usually say the bullpen is full 187 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: of characters. Left handers are also one of those characters. 188 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: You happen to check both of those boxes. So is 189 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: that the case for the lumber Kings here in twenty nineteen. 190 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, we have throughout the whole staff, we 191 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 3: have a bunch of guys who have a whole bunch 192 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 3: of different personalities, right we got we have some quiet guys. 193 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 3: We have some very very you know, loud and kind 194 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 3: of just kind of out there. But it's great because 195 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 3: it keeps everything, you know, loose and fun. And you know, 196 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: I've I like to think that my personality fits great 197 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 3: with our team and then with the pitching staff as well. 198 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 3: Out in the bullpen, you know, talking about the game 199 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 3: and everything like that. It's always a lot of fun 200 00:09:58,720 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 3: out there. 201 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: It seems like a lot of fun is something that 202 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: is said quite regularly for this lumber Kings team. A 203 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: team that really gets along too, not just between the lines, 204 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: but it seems like top to down sometimes there's that 205 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: segregation between pitchers and position players that does not seem 206 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: like it'ts the case for the Clinton lumber Kings here 207 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: at the A level. 208 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would. 209 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 3: I definitely think that the reason why we're like that 210 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 3: is because a lot of us played together last year 211 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 3: in Batavia. And then also we've kind of all got 212 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 3: drafted together. There's not a whole bunch of guys that 213 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 3: weren't in the twenty eighteen draft class, which is why 214 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 3: we're so close. Because when we got to Florida or Jupiter, 215 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 3: you know, meeting everybody and everything like that, those are 216 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 3: you know, these are my boys, you know, I'm I'm 217 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 3: looking forward to working my way up with them and 218 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 3: everything like that. And I think that's why we're so close. 219 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 3: And plus, like you know, position players and pitchers, we 220 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 3: talk a lot amongst each other about the game, so 221 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 3: it's I'm trying to figure out what the hitter is 222 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 3: looking for in different situations, and then they want to 223 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 3: know what the pitcher's thinking. And I think that that's 224 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: a huge advantage that the lumber Kings, you know, have 225 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 3: to offer. 226 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: The Clinton lumber Kings, and that pitching staff talking about 227 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: bullpens a little bit here, but you touched on the 228 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: draft and that had just ended, so it was a 229 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: very big day for a lot of those amateur athletes 230 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: that then go into the professional ranks. I was wondering 231 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: if you could tell us your story as well too, 232 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: because you're a San Diego guy, and we got a 233 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: little piece of it when we had yat at Chadwick 234 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 1: for the community out out in Illinois. You were talking 235 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: to the kids a little bit about how you were 236 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: beginning to see your path going into the professional ranks 237 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: and now here you are in the Marlin single A. 238 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I mean my experience and all that was. 239 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 3: Those three days were very stressful, very emotional. You know, 240 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 3: I had a lot of things going through my head. Luckily, 241 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: I had, you know, my friends and especially you know, 242 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 3: my mom and dad to kind of help me and 243 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 3: give me advice and encouraging words and stuff. But you know, 244 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 3: going into my senior year, my coach, Mike Cummings, he 245 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: just told me that go have fun. And after three 246 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 3: or four starts and I got the ball rolling it, 247 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 3: things kind of fell into place and I kind of 248 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 3: over those the last month of that season, I I 249 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 3: don't know, it was emotional, you know, knowing that it 250 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 3: was my last time in college and everything like that. 251 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: And then once I got drafted, coming to the Marlins 252 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 3: and seeing what they have to offer, I felt at home. 253 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 3: And you know, I'm really looking forward to meeting these 254 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 3: new draft guys and kind of welcoming them and sharing, 255 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 3: you know, my experiences and what I've learned so far, 256 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 3: because you know, the jump from college ball to you know, 257 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 3: professional ball, it's a pretty good leap. But the coaching 258 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 3: staff and everybody that surrounded me has been you know, 259 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: top notch, absolutely just amazing, which is why I've had success. 260 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 3: And I think that that's why the lumber Kings are 261 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:52,959 Speaker 3: so successful as of right now. 262 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: Clint lumber Kings. As we talk here with Alex Vesia 263 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: and you mentioned with those kids out at Chadwick, which 264 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: I found very interesting was the high school and just 265 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: how that had gone in the baseball development. Was that 266 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: when it first came on your radar, that you know, 267 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: professional baseball was an option for you. 268 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 3: So my the first kind of idea of me playing 269 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 3: further was I had a counselor and he told me, 270 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 3: you know, or asked me what's your goal? 271 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: What do you want to do with your life? And 272 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: I was like, I don't really know this last year, yeah, 273 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: this is my freshman year. 274 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 3: You know, I didn't even know what I was doing 275 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 3: the next day, so, you know, asking me what do 276 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 3: you want to do in five years was a very 277 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: you know, crazy question to me. So I played my 278 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 3: freshman year and that was that was. It was good, 279 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 3: but it wasn't great. And my sophomore year, I really 280 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 3: wanted to make varsity and going into tryouts and everything, 281 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 3: I felt like I had a good tryout and they 282 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 3: put me on jv which was, you know, wasn't what 283 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 3: I wanted, but I you know, I told myself I'd 284 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: work hard and by the end of the year I 285 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 3: wanted to be on varsity, and sure enough, of the 286 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: last start of the season or the last game of 287 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 3: the season, my coach brought me into the office and 288 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 3: was like, do you want to start? And I was like, yeah, absolutely, 289 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 3: And I believe I ended up going either five or six, 290 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 3: maybe seven innings. I'm not too sure, but after that 291 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 3: being out there and feeling, you know, the small crowd 292 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: that we had, but it was big for me. I 293 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 3: was like, I want to do this, so I kind 294 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 3: of I gave it, you know, a hard thought, and 295 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 3: I asked my parents and they, you know, they were 296 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 3: totally supportive of. 297 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: Everything that you know, I wanted to do. 298 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 3: And you know, that was my thing is I wanted 299 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 3: to get a scholarship to play baseball at the next level, 300 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 3: to not only help out my parents, you know, financially 301 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 3: with paying for college and getting a degree, but also 302 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 3: I wanted to play baseball. So and then once I 303 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 3: got into my freshman year, I was only told that 304 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 3: I was going to pitch maybe fifteen innings, and I 305 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 3: was like, Okay, that'll give me time to learn and 306 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 3: kind of understand what college is all about. And a 307 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 3: couple injuries from older guys and then a couple of 308 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 3: guys who were ineligible. We second start of the season, 309 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 3: my coach hand me the ball and it's like, you're 310 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 3: starting today, and I was like, what, I'm starting? 311 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: All right? Cool? 312 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 3: And after that I started, I think I think it 313 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 3: was twelve games, you know, and after that, I was like, 314 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 3: this is what I want to do. I can you know, 315 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 3: that was where my vision really opened up and I 316 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 3: started to set pretty high goals for myself. And everybody 317 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 3: who I had talked to never really told me like 318 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 3: those are achievable or those are too high or too low. 319 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 3: I just told myself that I'm going to do it, 320 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: and I wanted to do it, and I would do 321 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 3: everything in my power to do that. So it's been great. 322 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 3: I absolutely love it. Just like pitching out there last night. 323 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 3: You know, I get a ground ball and Cespy makes 324 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 3: the play. I think I think it was Rivy he 325 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 3: you know, makes the play and I'm like looking in 326 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 3: the stands, going, this is awesome. I love it. It's great. 327 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: It's such like an emotional thing for me because I 328 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 3: just feel like I put a lot of passion into 329 00:15:58,880 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 3: the game. 330 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely. I think you have to write because we talk 331 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: about the grind of the schedule. I mean, it's one 332 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: hundred and forty games, one hundred and thirty nine now 333 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: because of the cancelation out in Davenport, which is a 334 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: fan at least, That's how I think everyone in minor 335 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: league baseball, and as a player too. That's where it 336 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: starts as a fan, and then you go into the 337 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: professional aspect of it and you think that, oh well, 338 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: I can handle it because I watch it all the time. 339 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: You know, I watch it every night and then you 340 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: get part of that grind, even at the minor league 341 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: level of one hundred and forty games. What has that 342 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: been like just getting adjusted to Because as we look 343 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: down here at the scorecard, this is gonna be game 344 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: number sixty of the one hundred and thirty nine game schedule, 345 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: and in times, as we just finished a three week 346 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: grind of no off days, it can kind of seem 347 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: like it's Groundhog's Day, right, it's every day with this. 348 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's something that they definitely prepare you for. 349 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 3: They tell you it over and over again that it's 350 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 3: going to be a long season, and I think that 351 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 3: the preparation that you do in the off season definitely 352 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 3: helps you, you know, for your season. I definitely felt 353 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 3: like I've been prepared and you know, I'm ready for this. 354 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 3: This is you know, I come out to the field 355 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: pretty much every single day like this is what I 356 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 3: love to do. I love playing catch, I love doing 357 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 3: my running, my working out. You know, batting practice is cool. 358 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 3: I enjoy a lot of it. So for me, it 359 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 3: doesn't really seem to drag on or anything. I'm I'm 360 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 3: always looking forward to that next day, because I don't 361 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 3: like it when I'm not pitching. 362 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 2: You know, I want to get out there. 363 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 3: I want the ball and I want to put my 364 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 3: team in the best possible situation to win a game. 365 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: Either. 366 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: Are there any guys at the higher levels that you 367 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: look up to still that maybe you met in high 368 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: school or in college that it kind of used as 369 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: a blueprint to maybe get up to the higher levels. 370 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 3: I've always I've always looked up to Marcus Strouman and 371 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 3: David Price, and then even dating back when I was 372 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: really younger, it was always Andy Pettitt, right, those were 373 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 3: those have been the guys that I've either watched video 374 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 3: on or just like how they carry themselves throughout the game. 375 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 2: But then also there was. 376 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 3: A guy from Grossmut High School. His name is Joe Musgrove, 377 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 3: who I watched him pitch in a playoff game in 378 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 3: CIF and there was a whole bunch of scouts behind him. 379 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,719 Speaker 3: And now he's pitching for for the Pirates. He's one 380 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 3: of their starters. Absolutely, you know, carving, and I want 381 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 3: to be I want to take that path just like 382 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 3: he did. So that's kind of a little like realistic 383 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 3: or something that I want to model myself after, just 384 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 3: because I know that how hard he's worked and where 385 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 3: he's come from. You know, he played against my high school, 386 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 3: you know, and I think that, you know, if he 387 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 3: can do it, I can definitely do it. I got 388 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 3: to put the work in and you know, maybe one 389 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 3: day i'll you know, throw against him or will be 390 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 3: on the same team. You know, it's always you always 391 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 3: got to keep that positive outlook on life. 392 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 1: And did you ever get a chance to meet him 393 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: to pick his brain, because. 394 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: You're, yeah, exactly, I haven't. 395 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 3: So I know there's a good friend of mine who 396 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 3: who knows him really well, and I'm I'm hoping that 397 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 3: maybe during the off season, one of these days, maybe 398 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 3: of this upcoming offseason, I'll be able to meet him, 399 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 3: because I'd love to talk to him. I think it'd 400 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 3: be super cool to hear his story firsthand, because I've 401 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 3: heard stories from from you know, people who he's talked to, 402 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 3: but you know, hearing it first person is always really nice. 403 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: So you grew up in San Diego and then you 404 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:14,880 Speaker 1: decided to go into the college ranks at cal State 405 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: East Bay, which is a little ways away from home, 406 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: right that's about a six hour drive he' say for 407 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: a little more than that. Yes, seven hours. I suppose 408 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: up to the East Bay went into that decision, because 409 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: that's that's a big move too, in the path of 410 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: the going into the professional ranks of baseball, going into college. 411 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely so. 412 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 3: Going through my senior year, I didn't really have anybody 413 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 3: who was looking at me. 414 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 2: Right. 415 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 3: So my my pitcheon coach at the time, he sent 416 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 3: a mass email out to you know, all the schools 417 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 3: up and down the West Coast. I didn't want to 418 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 3: go East Coast. I didn't really want to go, you know, 419 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 3: too far. And cal State East Bay they were the 420 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 3: only team to get back to him. And then they 421 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 3: ended up emailing and calling me and Bob Ralston was 422 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 3: his name, and he was the head coach at the time, 423 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 3: and he called me and liked what I had to offer, 424 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 3: and my and you know, we send them videos and 425 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 3: everything like that, and they ended up giving me a scholarship, 426 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 3: which helped my family out, you know, tremendously, which is, 427 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 3: you know, what my parents wanted to And then we 428 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 3: went in, uh, toured the campus and everything like that, 429 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,479 Speaker 3: and the and the Bay area is different than cal 430 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 3: are different than San Diego, I'm sorry, and I liked it. 431 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 3: I knew I needed a change. Six eight hours however 432 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 3: far you you know, however long you want that car ride, 433 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 3: depending on how fast you drive, so you know it, 434 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 3: to me, it was it was far enough. You know, 435 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 3: I didn't I didn't want to be, you know, two 436 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 3: hours away where I could always go home because I 437 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 3: felt like I wasn't going to get the full college 438 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 3: experience and I wanted that. I wanted to kind of 439 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 3: I knew that I needed that. You know, my parents 440 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 3: loved me and everything like that. But but at some point, 441 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 3: you know, you have to kind of detach and your 442 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 3: own thing and really live life how you want to 443 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 3: and make decisions that you're either going to have benefits 444 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 3: or consequences from that. I definitely think that college and 445 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 3: everything like that made me grow. I grew so much 446 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 3: just from my freshman year into my sophomore year and 447 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 3: then you know, freshman year to senior year, I've grown 448 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 3: so much. So you know, definitely that was a very 449 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 3: very tough decision that. You know, my parents at the time, 450 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 3: did they know exactly that was the plan? No, but 451 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 3: they were like, this is the best opportunity that you 452 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 3: have at this time. You know, let's take it. Let's 453 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 3: do it. If you don't like it, you can come home. 454 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,199 Speaker 3: But you know, my dad told me, he was like, 455 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 3: I want you to at least go your first quarter 456 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 3: there and see how you like it. And you know, 457 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: it took me a week or two to adjust. I 458 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 3: called my mom a couple of times, Hey, how do 459 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 3: I do this laundry? Or like how do I cook this? 460 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 3: You know, and that's like that's a part of it, 461 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 3: you know. And there we have a couple of high 462 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 3: school guys on the team right now and they're going 463 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: through the exact same thing that I went through, and 464 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 3: you know, I want to help them out. You know, 465 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 3: I never I never get down or get on them 466 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 3: for not knowing, because shoot, I was in their shoes 467 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 3: four years ago. So I think that that's like a 468 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 3: super cool thing that I take my I take pride 469 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 3: in is helping the younger guys at this level kind 470 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 3: of go through life and go through ups and downs 471 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 3: because I'm with them every day every single day. You know, Hey, 472 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 3: how's it going, How you doing well? What do you 473 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 3: got going on? That's all I asked them that, And 474 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 3: whether they want to talk to me or not. Hey, 475 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 3: that's okay, but I'm I'm watching them grow and it's cool. 476 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 3: It's really cool, especially since the beginning of the draft 477 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 3: till now they've grown already so much so. 478 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: In that draft and the taking of the seventeenth round, 479 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: imagine your parents, as you've hit on a little bit, 480 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 1: very excited when that moment. Absolutely where were you when 481 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 1: that had happened? And who was all surrounding you? 482 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, So at the time I was I was up 483 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 2: in the Bay Area. I was in Hayward. I was 484 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 2: at the house that I had stayed at. 485 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 3: For my senior year, and I had a few of 486 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 3: my buddies around, and it was It was funny because 487 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 3: I I like looked up and saw my name, and 488 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 3: I like looked down and then I realized it again. 489 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 3: I looked up there and I was like, wait a second, 490 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 3: that's my name. It said Kyla, said east Bain, and 491 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 3: then they announced it and that was cool. I was 492 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 3: super cool. My parents were driving home at the time, 493 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 3: because I think my mom had to work either the 494 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 3: next day or something like that, so or they might 495 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 3: have even been home at the time. 496 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 2: I'm not too sure, but yeah, that was that day 497 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: was crazy. 498 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 3: I got so many phone calls and and it was 499 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 3: I really enjoyed it, you know what I mean, and 500 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 3: just like being able to reflect a little bit about 501 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 3: how far I've come and now it's like, okay, now 502 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 3: I gotta make some new goals for myself. And you know, 503 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 3: that was definitely that time in that period was something 504 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 3: that I will never ever forget. Definitely one of my 505 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 3: most favorite moments. 506 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: Well, you don't hear it too much when you talk 507 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: about baseball players reaching the major leagues, but I thought 508 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: Connor Scott hit on it when he had first come 509 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: out here. But getting a signed to a full like 510 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 1: like their full season team and opening day as you were, 511 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: so was that a big moment for you as well? 512 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: You know, your first full taste of professional baseball, you 513 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: get to a full season team with the Clinton lumbert Kings. 514 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: That tells you that you know, once can't break, essentially, 515 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: that you're with a team from opening day. That's got 516 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: to be a pretty big moment to a milestone on 517 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: that journey. 518 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 3: Right right, And that you know, that was that was definitely. 519 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,479 Speaker 3: Going into spring training, I'd never been to spring training, right, 520 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 3: I've always was always playing baseball always you know, doing something, 521 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 3: So to go. 522 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: Through that that was awesome. 523 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 3: That was such an experience, you know, seeing fans around, 524 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 3: signing autographs other stuff like that, and then you know, 525 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 3: performing and going through that grind to get to here. 526 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 3: This is what I want, you know. I wanted to 527 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 3: break with the lumber Kings just because I knew that 528 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,199 Speaker 3: I've put in all the hard work to earn a 529 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 3: spot here and then I just needed to perform on 530 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 3: the field. 531 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: So, you know, going into the locker room and. 532 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 3: Seeing my name on the board and everything like that, 533 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 3: I you know, I told. 534 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 2: Myself like, hey, here we go. This is what I wanted. 535 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 3: This is what you get, you know, and now you 536 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 3: just take another step forward of understanding like goal. Once 537 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 3: you reach your goal, now you gotta make another one 538 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 3: and that and that's something that was pretty cool. I 539 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 3: definitely think that all the situations and everything that we've 540 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 3: already endured this year been a lot. We've been through 541 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 3: a lot as this team, and I think that we 542 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 3: were definitely gonna succeed more and more as the season 543 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 3: goes on. So so new goals for you. 544 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: Once you got to Clinton, what were they, you know, 545 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: looking at twenty nineteen as we said this is gonna 546 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: be game sixty as we record this on June the eighth. 547 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: So how have you felt those goals have shaped up, 548 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: because you've got a decent sample size now to look 549 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: back on. 550 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, definitely. 551 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 3: I My thing was understanding what my role was going 552 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 3: to be, right cause, I mean there's a we have 553 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 3: a whole bunch of pitchers on this pitching staff, and 554 00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 3: I didn't know if I was gonna start, didn't know 555 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 3: if I was going to release. And I told myself, 556 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,640 Speaker 3: no matter what role you get, you know you're gonna 557 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 3: give it your all, right, And that's definitely I was 558 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 3: talking with the Fleece and he told me you're gonna 559 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 3: be in the relieving role, either long term or short term, 560 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 3: and I was like, Okay, that's totally cool with me. 561 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 3: The only thing with that is that I've never been 562 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 3: out of the bullpen, So that was one adjustment that 563 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 3: I needed to make. I've always been a starter. I 564 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 3: always had that routine. So I have tweaked my routine 565 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 3: a little bit and it's definitely gone a lot better, 566 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 3: and I'm coming around to it a lot faster than 567 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 3: I thought. 568 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 2: And I think the fleeces. 569 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 3: A has a big of that, and why I'm in 570 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 3: that routine so quick. 571 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: I thought it was so interesting when we again were 572 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: out at Chadwick and one of the kids had asked 573 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 1: you what was a hard pitch to throw? And you 574 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: were talking about the change up, and I was wondering 575 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: if you could talk about why that being is more 576 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: of a difficult pitch because we talk about it on 577 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: the broadcast that usually when you talk about pictures and 578 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,440 Speaker 1: what they're working on at the single A level, it's 579 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: a fastball, a slider, a curve ball, and they're working 580 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: on the change up. So why is that pitch so 581 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: hard to throw? We hear it's obviously a very useful pitch, 582 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: and I think it's Tyler Mitchell usually given credit for 583 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: the best change ups in the game, and you say 584 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: the change up as well. 585 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 3: So I mean personally it was I kept getting underneath 586 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 3: the ball and it was always armside and it was 587 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 3: high right and I never was able to get out 588 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 3: in front on it. And whether that was the grip, 589 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,320 Speaker 3: whether it was you know, it was a hot day 590 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 3: and my hand was super slippery, I don't really know 591 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 3: it at instructs. Uh, that's where I definitely I learned 592 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:42,679 Speaker 3: it and I got a really good feel for it, 593 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 3: and over the offseason I was able to maintain that. 594 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 3: And it's just a it's a pitch that you want 595 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 3: to You want the same arm speed, but you want 596 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 3: the ball to be slower. So it's like, you know, 597 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 3: how do you do that without making it fast? 598 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 2: And it does. 599 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 3: It's all in the grip, and it's finding the grip 600 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 3: that works with your arm slot. At least that's what 601 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 3: I what I believe in. And I think that I've 602 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 3: finally come around to a comfortable grip that I'm able 603 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 3: to throw consistently and it has the same movement and 604 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 3: and you know, obviously, Tyler Mintil, that thing is disgusting. 605 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,400 Speaker 3: I play I've played catch with them multiple times and 606 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 3: it goes between my legs or it hits me in 607 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 3: the shin or you know, just because it just is 608 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 3: it's such a it looks like a fastball out of 609 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 3: your hand, right, but then at the last second it 610 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 3: dives away or it's slow. It's just slower and it 611 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 3: kind of drops off the table. That's just how that 612 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 3: pitch works. And once you are able to throw it 613 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 3: with the same arm speed, so it looks like a 614 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 3: fastball out of the hand. It's it's gonna be a 615 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 3: very effective pitch. So that's that's my my opinion on it. 616 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 3: I just think that it's just something you got to 617 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 3: keep working on and you have to throw it every 618 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 3: single day to keep the feel and to kind of 619 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 3: just understand how it works as a pitcher, and you. 620 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: Grip it a little looser, right than like a fastball slider. 621 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've I've been told to hold it like an egg, 622 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 3: Like if you were to throw an egg, You're not 623 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 3: gonna grip it really hard because you'll crack the shell. 624 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 3: And then I've also heard that you want it to 625 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 3: come out of your ring finger or the you know, 626 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 3: not your pinky, but yeah, it would be your ring finger. 627 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 3: And it definitely the grip and how you hold it. 628 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 3: You want to hold it a little bit lighter so 629 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 3: it can slip out of your hand, or you can 630 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 3: throw it a little bit sooner rather than staying out 631 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 3: in front. And that was usually what had happened to me. 632 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 3: And you know, in college, I never had it. I 633 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 3: never had a change up. It was usually just throw 634 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 3: the fastball on the slider and sometimes the curveball, just 635 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 3: because you throw all those really hard and you grip 636 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 3: them really hard. 637 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 2: At least that's how I do it. 638 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 3: I don't maybe I'm doing it wrong, but but yeah, 639 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 3: the the change up at this level you need it 640 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 3: because every hitter that you face can hit a fastball, 641 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 3: whether it's ninety miles an how they're ninety miles an 642 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 3: hour or ninety five or one hundred, they're gonna be 643 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 3: able to get their timing down. But the change up, 644 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 3: if it looks like a fastball, they're gonna swing right. 645 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: Over the top of it. Every time. 646 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: Well, we try to let everyone go with a nice, 647 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: easy question, but usually these are the toughest ones of 648 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: the interview, and so we wanted to ask you what 649 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: happened to the mustache? It was there and now it's gone. 650 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 1: Does have anything to do with the girlfriend being in 651 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: town for a little. 652 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 2: Bit, No, it was. 653 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 3: So it started out as mustache March. That's what I 654 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 3: wanted to do. That was during spring training, right, it was. 655 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 3: I did it in college, and in college it I 656 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 3: threw really well in college, and this year I was like, 657 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 3: you know what, I'll I'm gonna just rock it for 658 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 3: mustache March. And then it started to you know, I 659 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 3: threw Well and through Well. I liked it for a 660 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 3: little while, and then every time I would eat, it 661 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 3: would get just I mean, I'd have, you know, either 662 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 3: sauce in it or dude, and nobody would tell me. 663 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 3: So I'd get home and it'd be sauce on my 664 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 3: face and I'm like, cool, guys, like, you're just gonna 665 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 3: let me ride. 666 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 2: That way, yeah, for the rest of the day. 667 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 3: But and then, you know it, it was just I 668 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:16,479 Speaker 3: was getting sick of it, you know. And then I 669 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 3: was talking with DeFelice and he he goes, why are 670 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 3: you going to shave it off? 671 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 2: You're throwing Well. 672 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 3: He's like, I'm I'm kind of you know, I have 673 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 3: these things, you know, whatever he was. 674 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: You know, he was superstitions. 675 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and so. 676 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 3: He he was like, you're not shaving it and I 677 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 3: and I was like why. So he didn't really tell me, 678 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 3: and it was it was fine. And then I threw 679 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 3: that night and I threw Well and I'm in the 680 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 3: dugout and he comes up to me and he's like, 681 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 3: ride up in my face and he goes, you're not 682 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 3: shaving that until you give up a run and I 683 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 3: was like, all right, okay, that's fine. So then I, 684 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 3: you know, like called my parents and to talk about 685 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 3: the game. And my mom's like, oh, are you gonna 686 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 3: You're gonna shave your mousd stush because I told them previously. 687 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 3: And I was like, no, Dfolice told me that I'm 688 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 3: gonna I should shave it once I give up a run. 689 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 3: Mom goes, you know, I like that idea. I was like, 690 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 3: all right that you know that that's fine. 691 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 2: You know it is outvoted. Yeah, you know. I was like, 692 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 2: all right, I'll ride that out. 693 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 3: And then I had an outing where I'd given up 694 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 3: two runs and and you know that that's where it was. 695 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 3: I was like, okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna shave it off. 696 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:28,239 Speaker 3: I was. 697 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 2: I was fine. 698 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 3: We had a two hour, three hour bus ride and 699 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 3: I was like contemplating it, contemplating it, and I get 700 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 3: home and I'm like looking at myself in the mirror 701 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 3: and I'm like, yeah, if it's coming off, and I 702 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 3: buzz it off. I get the field the next day 703 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 3: and everybody, all my all the guys were like what 704 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 3: are you what did you do? And uh, you know, 705 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 3: it was like it was time you know, it was time. 706 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 3: And then they're like you look like a baby now, 707 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 3: and I'm like, yeah, well I have you know, because 708 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 3: I clean shaved all the way. 709 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 2: It was. 710 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 3: It was all good and it just happens that my 711 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 3: girlfriend was coming in town, and you know, they were like, oh, 712 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 3: you did it because that I was like, no, that's 713 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 3: what I was thinking, right, yeah no, And I was 714 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 3: like no, like it was it was my decision. She 715 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 3: didn't really care either way, you know, she's she was like, 716 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 3: do whatever you want. 717 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 2: I don't care. 718 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 3: So, which was funny. It was all good. And you know, 719 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: I go out to play catch and Defleet looks at me. 720 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 3: He goes, wow, it's still ugly. 721 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 2: I was like, yeah, there we go. 722 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:26,400 Speaker 3: So, you know, it is what it is. I think that, 723 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 3: you know, whether I have facial hair or not. And 724 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 3: you know, I'm gonna go out there and throw, you know, 725 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 3: get guys out and be a competitor, just like I 726 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 3: know how to be. So yeah, we'll see, I might 727 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 3: grow a beard out. 728 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 2: I don't know. You just got to keep them on 729 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 2: their toes. 730 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 1: Well yeah, well, of course, keep everyone at breast of 731 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: the facial hair situation with Alex Bessie, and we appreciate 732 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: you taking the time here to talk with us on 733 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 1: a Ball and Burlington. Thanks again for coming on board. 734 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 2: Of course, of course I appreciate it. 735 00:33:51,000 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 1: Thank you, and welcome back on a Ball with eric Os. 736 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 1: You had just heard from the lumber Kings reliever, the 737 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 1: left hander Alex Vessia, who has taken some time to 738 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: talk with us, very much appreciated, as he had to 739 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: do so after playing catch and doing some runs out 740 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 1: on the field. He even talked about that during the interview, 741 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 1: something that he likes so much. Just really cool to 742 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,320 Speaker 1: talk with someone who is so impressed by what is 743 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: happening around him, I mean, very grateful to be a 744 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,839 Speaker 1: professional baseball player. I thought that was a pretty cool 745 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: moment when Vessi is talking about looking up into the 746 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 1: stands here in Burlington where they've had some good crowds. 747 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: I think it was thirteen hundred the night that he 748 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,680 Speaker 1: had pitched that was here down in Burlington, Iowa. And 749 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: he just said to himself how cool it was, because 750 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:58,799 Speaker 1: it's always nice when a fan becomes part of the 751 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: professional baseball so to speak. So again, thanks to Alex 752 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,399 Speaker 1: Vesia for taking the time the lumber Kings roster has 753 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: not changed a whole lot as of late, as we 754 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 1: have always keeping you abreast of the roster moves for 755 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: the Clinton lumber Kings here down in Clinton, and the 756 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:17,440 Speaker 1: only roster move that we can report to you was 757 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: just the addition of Connor Grant, the lumber Kings outfielder 758 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: that we've seen playing right and in left field. He 759 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 1: has been really an everyday outfielder for the lumber Kings 760 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: or sometimes a designated hitter. It was part of a 761 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: roster move that sent Ricardo Sesspodis down to extended spring training, 762 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 1: and that has been the only roster move that has 763 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 1: happened as of late for the lumber Kings. But as 764 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: you well know, that'll be changing very shortly, likely in 765 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 1: the second half. If experience is any indication from a 766 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 1: season ago, the lumber Kings will be receiving almost a 767 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:50,800 Speaker 1: fresh batch, almost a new team in the second half, 768 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,399 Speaker 1: as that's when the draft picks will start to filter in. 769 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,400 Speaker 1: Of course, the Miami Marlins had drafted fourth overall, so 770 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: we will of course keep you abreast of the new 771 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: faces that come into town for the Clinton lumber Kings. 772 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 1: That second half will be beginning on Thursday, the twentieth 773 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,879 Speaker 1: of June, and usually that final day of the All 774 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:09,279 Speaker 1: Star Break, at least last year was the indication and 775 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: the year before that in the Seattle Mariners organization, the 776 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:16,160 Speaker 1: lumber Kings had received their first draft class players that 777 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 1: had come out, and there are several high ones that 778 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: you would expect. 779 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 2: You've got JJ. 780 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:23,520 Speaker 1: Bledet, who has taken fourth over all by the Miami Marlins, 781 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: a college guy, so you could see him potentially in Clinton. 782 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: Of course, it's just wild speculation at this point, but 783 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 1: the lumber Kings will as a very talented team that 784 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 1: has just kind of fallen off as of late, unable 785 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 1: to really just finish games as it were. We've talked 786 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 1: about the closeness of the contest, the most recent ones 787 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 1: being the Burlington Bees one run affairs, and it seems 788 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: like that has been the case just about all season 789 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: long for the Clinton lumber Kings. One run games it 790 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 1: seems to be their specialty. As we look at the 791 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:56,000 Speaker 1: roster breakdown for the Clinton lumber Kings again recording this 792 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 1: on June tenth, they have played sixty two games. They 793 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,640 Speaker 1: are two games under five hundred thirty and thirty two 794 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: but when it comes to the tight games, the one 795 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,520 Speaker 1: run affairs that they have played in, it has been 796 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 1: twenty nine of them, and they are thirteen and sixteen 797 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:12,719 Speaker 1: in such games. They've also played in twelve two run contests, 798 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 1: a record that is not very impressive at four and 799 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,799 Speaker 1: eight and two run games, but it just speaks to 800 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,720 Speaker 1: how close the contests have been for the Clinton lumbert Kings. 801 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 1: Kind of to be expected, I guess you could say 802 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 1: with a younger team. But again we go back to 803 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: the Pythagorean theorem of baseball, which usually tells you that 804 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 1: a team can be a little bit overrated or underrated, 805 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: depending on how it breaks down. You just plug in 806 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: the runs allowed versus the runs that you have scored, 807 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:40,720 Speaker 1: really just a run differential equation. And the lumber Kings, 808 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,759 Speaker 1: as again we record this on June the tenth, they 809 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 1: have scored nine more runs than their opponents, so that 810 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:47,279 Speaker 1: would tell you they should be above five hundred, but 811 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:50,880 Speaker 1: under the five hundred mark on June tenth, as we 812 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: record this out here in Burlington, so maybe something will give. 813 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 1: But a younger team that the lumber Kings may be 814 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 1: seen some new faces in in just about a week 815 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 1: or so, and of course we will keep you abreast 816 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 1: of that. This is A Ball with Eric Ohs, and 817 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,200 Speaker 1: I want to thank everyone for listening to episode number 818 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,840 Speaker 1: eleven and a big thanks to our guest Alex Vesia 819 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 1: for taking some time while the lumber Kings were on 820 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 1: the road for the second to final time in the 821 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:14,640 Speaker 1: first half. 822 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 2: Well. 823 00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 1: Hopefully we will see you out at a game some 824 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 1: point this year, but if you don't, we can see 825 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:22,760 Speaker 1: you on the radio. As we shamelessly plug the lumber 826 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:25,520 Speaker 1: Kings broadcast, you can listen to all the lumber Kings 827 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:29,360 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen games with yours truly on the call. It'll 828 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:31,880 Speaker 1: be on the FM dial for those of you in 829 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 1: the broadcast range on one hundred point three FMWCCI, and 830 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 1: for those of you outside of the range, you can 831 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:40,759 Speaker 1: always find us on the internet at Lumberkings dot com 832 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:43,239 Speaker 1: via the tune in radio app. Thanks again everyone for 833 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 1: listening to the episode. We'll hope to see you on 834 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: the radio on the broadcast side of things, and of 835 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 1: course we'll look for you again next week with episode 836 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 1: number twelve of A Ball with Eric Ohs. 837 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 2: Then you don't any p