WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:07.400 Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly is brought 2 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:51.119 to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance Hiver one. 3 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:56.679 Welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along with you from Toronto this weekend 4 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:00.880 where the Guardians are taking on the Blue Jays and a three game weekend series 5 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.719 that started on an upbeat note on Friday night. They'll play again Saturday afternoon 6 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:11.159 at three seven and one more time on Sunday afternoon at one thirty seven to 7 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.760 wrap up what has been a three city road trip that has gone well so 8 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:19.439 far, the Guardians winners of four of the six games played to this point. 9 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:23.239 Coming up in just a little bit on our show. The second half 10 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:27.519 of our show, we'll hear from Senior Vice President Bob Dibiasio another edition of 11 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:33.560 at the Ballpark with Bobby d. Also a minor league report with farm director 12 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:37.519 Robserfolio, and we'll talk outfield play, which has been a strong suit for 13 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:42.920 this ball club with outfield coach JT. McGuire. But first our weekend review 14 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:48.959 as we begin after Monday's off day with Tuesday night's game in Cincinnati, where 15 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:52.239 the Guardians were taking on the Reds for the first time this season, and 16 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.359 the Reds jumped in front with a run in the first inning, and it 17 00:01:55.400 --> 00:02:00.040 would have been even more if not for some stellar defense from center fiet Tyler 18 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:05.680 Freeman. Here comes as two to one to Spencer Steer, swung on and 19 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:08.759 there's a high fly ball to deep center back on it's Freeman. He's at 20 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:15.000 the wall, he leaps and he made the catch at the fence. Back 21 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:22.280 to second as Candelario. Tyler Freeman does it again. A great play in 22 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:27.800 center won and won the count on Frehley. Here's the pitch and that swung 23 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.360 on and lifted high in the air. This one to deep right center. 24 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:37.400 Moving back, Freeman leaps at the wall and he made another catch, and 25 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:43.599 this one may have saved a home run. What an inning for Tyler Freeman 26 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:50.280 defensively, and he did save a home run. Oh man. We head 27 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:54.840 to the bottom half of the first inning. It is still only one nothing 28 00:02:55.000 --> 00:03:01.879 Cincinnati, thanks to Tyler Freeman that kept it reasonable and the Guardians offense got 29 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:06.080 to work. In the third inning, a walk to Brian Rochio and a 30 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:10.400 bow Naylor double set the table for Stephen Kuan. Here it comes from Martinez, 31 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:15.680 swung on ground ball third base, past the third baseman, down the 32 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:21.280 left field line. It scores one and two. Here comes Naylor with the 33 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:25.960 second run and the Guardians take the lead two to one. And the wizardry 34 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:32.400 of Stephen Quan at the plate continues as he's in at second base with a 35 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:38.479 two run double. Later in the inning, Josh Naylor drove home another run. 36 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.599 Here's the pitch to Naylor. There goes the runner and the pitches grounded 37 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:46.159 through the right side base It that will score Quan from third into third, 38 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:52.280 goes Freeman, and Naylor comes through with an RBI single to make it three 39 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:58.280 to one. Guardians and those fans who have come down from Cleveland making themselves 40 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.879 heard here in Cincinnati. The Reds pulled to within one with a run in 41 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.000 the sixth, but the Guardians got that run right back in the eighth inning 42 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:11.479 with Naylor leading things off. Josh Naylor leads it off eighth inning and his 43 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:16.560 first pitch, swinging, drives one high and deep right field way on out 44 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:27.399 of here bout run Josh Naylor, seventeenth on the year for Nailer a mammoth 45 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:32.360 blast and the Guardians now lead it four to two. Then in the top 46 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:36.920 half of the ninth inning, Josh Naylor's big RBI night continued. He one 47 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:42.959 swung on ground ball first base side sliding stop by Steer, throws to second 48 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:46.439 for one, back to first, not in time. Safe at first is 49 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.759 Nailer. That allows his brother Bo to score from third and the Guardians had 50 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:57.399 a run. It's now five to two Cleveland. The Reds did scratching cloth 51 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.759 for a rare runoff of Emmanuel Classe the bottom half of the ninth inning that 52 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:03.839 made it five to three. But in the end the lead was plenty for 53 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.920 class A to nail down another save. Here's his pitch and it swung online 54 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:15.319 to short, caught by a Rocchio and the Guardians hang on for the win. 55 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:20.800 Whoo. The final score five to three, so a nice win for 56 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:26.279 the Guardians to open the Cincinnati series. The Reds bounced back and they won 57 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:30.839 the finale of the brief two game series four to two on Wednesday night. 58 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:34.120 After an off day Thursday, it was on to Toronto for the Guardians and 59 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:39.639 they opened a three game series on Friday night. Impressive again. They got 60 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:43.800 the scoring started in the second inning with back to back doubles, first from 61 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:48.959 Will Brennan, then from Daniel Schnemann Schneeman, another versatile player in center field 62 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:55.680 tonight at the plate since being called up five for fourteen. The pitch to 63 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:59.399 him and he swings and drills it to left center that gets down for a 64 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:04.000 base head and it sneaks on through, scoring Is Brennan into second, is 65 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:10.519 Schneeman and the Guardians take the early lead at one nothing. In the fourth, 66 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:14.959 the Guardians added onto that lead thanks to Will Brennan. Here's his pitch 67 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.920 and it's swung on and blasted high and deep to left. Has a chance 68 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:29.800 home run well Brennau into the bullpen opposite field to nothing Cleveland. Good power 69 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:34.199 the opposite way by Brennan, which we haven't seen a whole lot of that, 70 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:39.839 but that has to be encouraging for him to know that he can take 71 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.920 a picture deep the opposite way. And they were back at it. In 72 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:47.360 the fifth, Brian Rochio with a lead off double and then Andres Jimenez delivered 73 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.120 the one to zero. Is drilled through the right side of base, it 74 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:56.000 headed for third being waved around is Rochio. Here's the throw up the line 75 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:00.519 Rochio's safe throw back to first, diving back in his Himene and his base 76 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:08.279 hit drives in Brian Rocchio and the Guardians now lead it three nothing. Then 77 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.120 on the mound, Logan Allen, for a second consecutive outing, was turning 78 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.680 in a solid start. Here's Logan Allen's payoff pitch. Justin Turner grounds it 79 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:23.600 to the shortstop, Rochio to second for one on the first double play and 80 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:28.839 with one pitch, Allen's out of the inning again the second time tonight. 81 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:32.040 That his infielders have turned two and we'll head to the fifth and this his 82 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:35.879 back to back strong starts for the lefty. The three to two swung on 83 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:42.279 popped him up third base side. Hosey's there and Ramirez makes the catch and 84 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:46.920 it's another good inning for Logan Allen. Five complete in Toronto, it's the 85 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.839 Guardians three, the Blue Jays nothing. Toronto did pick up a run in 86 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:54.399 the sixth off of Allen, but coming out of the Guardian's bullpen, Kate 87 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:58.639 Smith tried to keep that lead at two runs, two outs. Runner at 88 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:03.120 first, the one to two pick swung on a high chopper to second, 89 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:05.879 hauled in by Jimenez. Time to throw and he gets him at first base. 90 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:13.680 Great work by Kate Smith. Again we head to the seventh, it's 91 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.720 the Guardians three, the Blue Jays one. I What a special night for 92 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:20.639 Smith as he was pitching in his home country for the first time, and 93 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.560 that's a big deal. He was part of the national team, the World 94 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:28.600 Baseball Classic team and now in the major leagues for the first time, pitching 95 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:31.320 in Toronto. Following Smith out of the pen, it was Scott Barlow, 96 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.399 Sam Henches and Hunter Gaddis. They kept the Blue Jays off the board in 97 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:39.559 the seventh and eighth innings before turning it over to Emmanuel class A in the 98 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:45.639 night. Here's the one swung on ground ball to the second baseman they sought 99 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:48.519 to do it. Jim Enez has it, throws to first and the Guardians 100 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:54.879 take the opener of this three game series, winning tonight here in Toronto. 101 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:58.559 So a nice win to open the series for the Guardians on Friday night at 102 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.960 the Rochet Center. And we mentioned Kate Smith being able to pitch in his 103 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:07.159 home country for the first time at the Rogers Center in his rookie Major league 104 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:11.919 season and how special that was for him. For the Naylor Brothers Josh and 105 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.200 Bo. Well, they're playing at the Rogers Center, which isn't too far 106 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:18.399 from their hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, and we had a chance to catch 107 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.960 up with Bow before the game. He's played here before in his rookie season 108 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:26.039 a year ago, but he talked about it before the game on Friday, 109 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:31.480 what it means to come back to Canada and play in his home country. 110 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:37.519 I feel like it's so special because of you know, how deeply it's ingrained 111 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.320 in the culture that we have here. I mean, you know, when 112 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:45.399 people are here for baseball, it's it runs deep, you know, so 113 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.000 you know, just to kind of understand how invested everyone is in this sport, 114 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:52.759 in the team that they support, it's I feel like it's super special. 115 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.799 And so, you know, to be able to play on the field 116 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:00.320 against that team, you know, with my brother surrounded by you know a 117 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:03.320 lot of the people that have been there throughout the years to support us, 118 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:07.559 it just makes the moment that much greater. And along those lines, you 119 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:11.399 were pointing out a special game that you were at that I think Cleveland fans 120 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:15.799 remember and always well for a long long time, not from the postseason in 121 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:20.120 sixteen, but regular season in sixteen Philloson, Yeah, it was, you 122 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:22.399 know, just what we thought was going to be, you know, your 123 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:26.120 your average Blue Jay game. One of the parents on our club I think 124 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:33.200 I was around like thirteen fourteen, maybe got us some tickets to the game. 125 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:35.639 We were in the box and you know, it just came to enjoy 126 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:39.639 and it turned out to be one of the longest games I think, And 127 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:43.919 it might have been blue Jay history, I think all history. But what 128 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:48.320 was like sixteen innings nineteen Oh my gosh. Yeah, yeah, so you 129 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.360 know we stuck it through for all nineteen of those innings. It was amazing, 130 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.080 definitely something I can't forget. And when you look at coming back this 131 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:58.919 time around, you've been grinding it to get it going this season and get 132 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.320 yourself to a good place, and I know certain spots your game are coming 133 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:07.240 along quicker than others. Helpful to be back home where you feel good and 134 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:09.519 have a chance to see some family and be so grounded as I know you 135 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:13.360 guys are. Yeah, without a doubt, we I feel like in this 136 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.559 clubhouse, you know, we're very supportive with each other. We always you 137 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:20.360 know, want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and understands that you know, 138 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:24.320 this is it's a long game. Honestly, you know, we have 139 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:28.240 so many months in this game, so you know, understanding that you know, 140 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.000 you can't you know, let certain individual days get to you. Just 141 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.960 understand that it's a process and you know, as time goes by, as 142 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:37.360 long as you're trending in the right direction, things are going to turn out 143 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.639 to be good, especially when you're playing the game the right way. And 144 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.080 I feel like, you know, as a recent that's kind of been the 145 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:45.240 trend for me, and you know, every opportunity I get to be out 146 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.879 there is super special. But yeah, being being back home kind of you 147 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:50.240 know, release some of the nerves a little bit, playing in front of 148 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.799 my family. Just understanding that, you know, this is a moment to 149 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:56.679 be grateful for. I know you mentioned earlier good vibes going back to Mississauga 150 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:01.159 and hopefully some good vibes this weekend. Thanks, thank you appreciate it. 151 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.919 That's Bou Naylor with a special night Friday night, along with Josh Naylor and 152 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.639 Kate Smith, three members natives of Canada getting to play in their home country 153 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:13.000 at the Rogers Center. Stay with us, we'll talk outfield play with J. 154 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.799 T McQuire, the Guardian's outfield coach. When we come back after this 155 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.240 last year's r V trip, we've met a couple with the same bumper sticker. 156 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:26.039 What are the odds your cousin isn't a good storyteller? He was a 157 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.279 die dress or was it a pharmacist? Huh? You know, I can't 158 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:33.240 remember. But she owns an RV protected by progressive and you don't so until 159 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.720 you get your own RV. Her stories are the most interesting stories you've ever 160 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.240 heard. Wow. Interesting. And when you do get your own RV, 161 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:43.720 save money by bundling it with your home auto or other vehicles with progress. 162 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:48.799 Oh, anesthesiologist. He was an anesthesiologist. Changerments coming up. We had 163 00:12:48.799 --> 00:13:03.120 another interurist, not availd in mind estates now the one one pitch a swing 164 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:09.679 in another lazy fly shallow center. It is dropping diving freeman beat a catch 165 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:16.120 and there's a run saver at least one run. Who knows how many more 166 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:22.440 would have scored this seting on a blooper to center. That freeman charged it 167 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:28.240 at the last moment. Dove made a diving, tumbling then rolling catch and 168 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:33.200 hung on. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from 169 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:39.120 the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the Guardians are playing 170 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.759 the Blue Jays this weekend. They won the opener Friday night three to one. 171 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:46.519 Earlier in the week they were down in Cincinnati to play the Reds and 172 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:52.240 it was defense galore for the Guardians, particularly Tyler Freeman, who had a 173 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:58.559 huge night defensively on Tuesday night with two unbelievable grabs in center field and fair 174 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:03.399 in mind field is not his natural position. He was an infielder really the 175 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:09.240 entire time prior to this offseason, but the organization asked him to make a 176 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:13.720 change. He worked hard with JT McGuire, the outfield coach for the Guardians, 177 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:18.440 to make that transition, and it certainly has been a smooth transition for 178 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:22.879 Tyler Freeman. We caught up with J. T McGuire and talked to him 179 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:26.799 about Freeman and others, but particularly Freeman and how quickly he's adapted to a 180 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:31.960 new position. I mean, I've been coaching for probably fifteen years now, 181 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:39.240 and this is definitely the biggest project that I've encountered. Not because Tyler is 182 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:43.320 not a good baseball player by any means it's because he's played infield all of 183 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:46.799 his life and he's trying to make the transition of playing center field in the 184 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:52.399 major leagues. So that's a tall task for anybody. But you know, 185 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:56.600 he's tackling it head on, and any information that I can give him, 186 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:58.759 you know, he's soaking it in. Luckily, I've got guys that have 187 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.559 played the outfield for an extended period of time, like Will Brennan and Stephen 188 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:09.200 Kwan who can give him tips throughout the game and throughout practices as well. 189 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:11.559 So he's getting it from all angles, not just myself, he's getting it 190 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:16.360 from the players as well. He is there one or two things that have 191 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:20.000 really enabled him to pick it up so quickly, maybe in spring training, 192 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:26.000 maybe even before that. I don't know if I can pinpoint anything specifically. 193 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.320 You know, he just has a knack for finding the baseball anyway. You 194 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:31.639 know, being an infielder, he was always getting dirty. He was always 195 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.759 you know, making tremendous plays on the dirt, and then kind of transition 196 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:41.360 into how he plays the outfield. I mean he attacks everything aggressively. He 197 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:45.440 has good anticipation on you know, where balls are going to be hit, 198 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:50.120 and then he just like I said, his instincts take over and he just 199 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:54.480 goes and gets the baseball. And he was saying prior to Tuesday night's game 200 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:58.480 that you've been working on him on going back to his left, and sure 201 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:03.639 enough, both both great catches were involving that going back to the wall to 202 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:07.679 his left. How do you identify that and what are some of the indicators 203 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.120 that you get that say, hey, this is an area you need to 204 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.440 work on. Well, we're super fortunate with our resources that you know, 205 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:21.960 the kind of the behind the scenes stuff where it show identifies players' strengths and 206 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:26.279 weaknesses. And right now I would say, like it's not a major weakness, 207 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:29.759 but it's part of his weakness is going back to his left and into 208 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.960 his right. So in work prior to the game, you know, when 209 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:38.120 we're doing individualized work, that's our area of focus is going back to his 210 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:42.000 left and in into his right. And it just so happens that you know, 211 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:47.519 we were working on it yesterday before the before the game, and it 212 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.720 panned out. So he's the new guy. You have a gold glover out 213 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:55.519 there and Steven Kond how different is the work with him to keep him in 214 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:57.919 a good spot as opposed to getting him to a good spot. Kawannie's a 215 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:03.839 special person and a player, so he's not the type where you know, 216 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:08.960 he'll let you know that he won gold. So anything that we throw out 217 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.160 there, he's he's right in the mix and does it. And it's it's 218 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.200 great from a standpoint of, you know, I almost have a player coach 219 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:22.000 out there with me because if i'm if I'm, I can prep Kwannie prior 220 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:25.400 to the day and say, hey, this is this is the area of 221 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.799 focus that we want to work on. It's kind of tailored towards Free. 222 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:33.839 Do you mind going out there and being a player coach almost and and he 223 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:38.160 has taken that, you know, to harden And one of his strengths right 224 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:42.240 now is is being a good leader. And he takes that leadership and he 225 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:47.759 and he helps out Free with that. So it's been it's been incredible. 226 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:52.119 Well, it has been fun to watch gold glovers like Steven Kwan and emerging 227 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.960 outfielders like Tyler Freeman among others. The j T great work. Thanks a 228 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:59.440 lot for coming by, Appreciate it. Appreciate your ros A's outfield coach j 229 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:04.160 T MC talking specifically about Tyler Freeman, but others as well as the Guardians 230 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:08.720 outfielders have certainly been a plus defensively for this ball club. Stay with us. 231 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:33.200 We'll have more to come as we continue from Toronto after this. Welcome 232 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.960 back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhause back with you from the Rogers Center in 233 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:41.160 Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Great to have you with us for Baseball Talk 234 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:45.440 on the radio. You can hear our show each week on the Guardians Radio 235 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:52.359 Network and in Cleveland and surrounding areas on our flagship station WTAM that means seven 236 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:57.359 am every Saturday. You can also hear it on different radio network affiliates as 237 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:04.000 well as in podcast for wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Rob Sorfolio is 238 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.400 The Guardian's director of player Development, and on this week's Farm Report, we 239 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:12.839 caught up with Rob just after a recent trip to the Dominican Republic to see 240 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:18.079 some of the youngest players in the entire organization, and Rob fills us in 241 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:22.440 on the purpose of his visit as their season in the DR is now getting 242 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.680 underway. For the fans that maybe don't have as much visibility into what happens 243 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:33.119 down there, it's really the first the first grade. In a lack of 244 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:36.960 a better analogy of our baseball school, and you know, we have an 245 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:44.319 entire department of international scouts led by Richard Conway and in several others that spend 246 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:51.160 days, hours, years recruiting scouting really young players across all of Venezuela, 247 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:55.839 the Dominican Republic, Columbia. And then when we sign those guys, they 248 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.920 matriculate into our academy and this is the time of year when when those guys 249 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.839 start to play for the first time. So unlike our full season affiliates that 250 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.200 start in April, these guys don't start their season till June, so they're 251 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:12.119 almost like two months behind the cadence of a player that you would see at 252 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:18.240 Akron or Lake County or Columbus or wherever. So their spring training just finished. 253 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.000 And that was kind of the point of the trip on my end, 254 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.079 was to go down there and really see a lot of these players, you 255 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:26.440 know, playing full games for the first time. So we have some players 256 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:30.640 that are our guys that have been in our system for a year or two, 257 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.200 and then there's a large group of about twenty new players. So one 258 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:40.200 it was just an opportunity to see those guys, interact with them obviously, 259 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:44.559 like interact with our coaching staff that you know, a lot of those guys 260 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:48.200 live down there year round. We also have some some coaches that travel in 261 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:52.079 for the season, whether they're American or Puerto Rican or wherever. So really 262 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:55.200 it was just to you know, help get our ducks in a row for 263 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.920 the start of the season. And you know, unfortunately, part of that 264 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:02.359 is like setting rosters and we have to you know, we can only have 265 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:04.720 seventy players, so we had to make a few releases. But really, 266 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:08.799 more so than anything in mind, just opportunity to see those guys, help 267 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:14.160 support the players and staff with their season that just started this past Monday, 268 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:17.200 and make sure that we were ready to rock. Rob. You mentioned some 269 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:21.839 of the new players and some as young as sixteen, which would put them 270 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:26.119 in high school if they were in the States. Is it more on the 271 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:29.720 field or off the field that you have to get them going and up to 272 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:33.839 speed in Yeah, I mean it's everything, I would say, yes. 273 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.279 So these guys sign at sixteen, most of them are playing as seventeen year 274 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:42.240 olds. Eighteen year olds for some of the new guys. But it's almost 275 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:47.359 like watching you know, high school varsity baseball in a lot of ways. 276 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.279 So you know, they play in the mornings around eleven o'clock. We have 277 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:55.960 our training period that goes on before that from a baseball standpoint, and then 278 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:00.519 the rest of their days is really you know, athletic development, whether that's 279 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:04.960 becoming bigger, stronger, faster in the weight room or things out in our 280 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:11.359 agility field, just to like really develop the skills from an athlete standpoint that 281 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:15.759 we think are really important for major leaguers down the line. And then so 282 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:21.400 much work goes into these guys from a classroom standpoint, so that that could 283 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:25.519 be you know, baseball and reviewing what they did in the games, or 284 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:30.799 preparing for the next day with our with our actual coaches, or learning English 285 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:37.920 or life skills, and trying to just like prepare these guys to be you 286 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:42.119 know, productive citizens, whether that's in their home country or when they matriculate 287 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:48.880 to the States. So trying to prepare these guys, and their schedule really 288 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:53.559 runs from eight am to about three pm because of how many things, you 289 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.319 know, we're trying to do with with these guys. And I think a 290 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:00.319 big credit goes to our education, our life skills department. You know Ali 291 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:07.640 Airs who lives down in the dr and and really really runs organizes, you 292 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:11.920 know, the majority of these efforts in person every day, and I know 293 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.039 our players are a lot better because of it. And just for a perspective 294 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:18.880 one point in time, a while ago, now, Jose Ramirez was one 295 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:23.119 of those youngsters just getting started at that age. So there's your perspective. 296 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:26.559 Who knows, maybe the next one is down there right now, and we'll 297 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.200 see him down the road. Rob Sorfolio joining us. It's the weekly farm 298 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:34.000 Report. He's the director of player development for the Guardians. And Robbie hads 299 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:38.559 some movement in the system recently, some players moving up from Single A Lake 300 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:42.279 County to the Double A level. And I don't know we should lump these 301 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:47.480 two guys together, but man, their numbers were off the charts at Lake 302 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.519 County. C J. Kaphis and Nate Furman, And what have they done 303 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:56.319 to really improve their stock here as the season moves along? Yeah, well, 304 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.880 you know we can. We can start with Firman just because he's in 305 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:04.799 a second year with us, and obviously firm did a lot of really good 306 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:11.000 things last year to prepare himself for for what we saw in Lake County, 307 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.640 and that began with you know, him really kicking off his pro career in 308 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:19.799 Lynchburg this time last year, and quite frankly, he dominated that level, 309 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:25.200 and we challenged him in Lake County and and he had some struggles for probably 310 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:32.880 the first time in his life as a hitter. And part of our discussions 311 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:37.279 the end of last year and and right at the end of season was was 312 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:41.079 really to try and challenge firm to you know, kind of take the next 313 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.720 step of, you know, what does it mean to be a complete hitter? 314 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:47.720 Like there were some really strong attributes that he has, like he he 315 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:51.079 knows the strike zone, he knows how to execute a plan, he's a 316 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.839 tough guy to strike out. But you know, we felt like there was 317 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:00.440 there was an opportunity to put him in a more consistent position to impact the 318 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:04.319 baseball And some of that was just like his overall capacity from a strength that 319 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:07.880 speed side of things, but a lot of that was also just like his 320 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:11.880 mindset on what he was trying to do and going up there with intent to 321 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:15.759 like hunt certain pitches at certain times in his at that and try and do 322 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:19.799 damage with them. So it's you know, not dissimilar conversations that you know, 323 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:23.319 roll the clock back a couple of years that we had with Kwannie or 324 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:27.799 Tyler Freeman or some of these guys that had similar performance profiles. But I 325 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:33.680 think man a lot of credit goes to Firm on how he handled hearing some 326 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.839 of that feedback. And then you know, this guy is is really impressive 327 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:41.519 to watch work and I think, you know, his work ethic and just 328 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:45.000 his desire to want to get better. You know that that's a huge credit 329 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:48.680 to our scouts were able to assess that on the front end, and obviously 330 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:52.519 a huge credit to him to be able to digest that information that we talked 331 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.000 about the end of last year and really work his tail off in the off 332 00:25:56.119 --> 00:26:00.240 season and challenge himself with some of the intent level items. And you know, 333 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:03.079 I think that's why we're seeing a huge gap in some of just his 334 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:07.640 ability to impact the baseball, whether it's from an exit velocity standpoint or just 335 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:11.000 from an overall like power performance side of things. You know, those are 336 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:15.519 the really fun stories where we're kind of all of our domains are working holistically, 337 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:18.359 like our physical groups, working with our hitting group, and we're coming 338 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:22.279 up with a plan and involving the player in that plan. And it's been 339 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:26.839 awesome to see, you know, some some real positive trends with with firm 340 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:30.400 early the early part of this year. And CJ similar story, c J 341 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:34.440 capis, Yeah, so, you know, similar, but a little different 342 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.839 in the sense of this is you know CJ's you know, first full year 343 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:42.759 with us. He got like a really small taste of affiliate ball out of 344 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:45.599 the draft last year when he went to Lynchburg, and you know, it's 345 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:48.920 it's tough for those guys that play a long college season. You know, 346 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.759 he Miami guy, played in the ACC, so it wasn't a lack of 347 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:57.240 being exposed to good competition. It was just, you know, they played 348 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:00.839 from February all the way to a and then they had a month off and 349 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:03.559 the draft happens, and they're trying to get up to speed on you know, 350 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.119 what professional baseball is. And you know, this is a guy just 351 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:11.720 seeing him in his first full year all the way back to spring training, 352 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.720 just the consistent quality at bats that he puts up is really impressive. And 353 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:19.359 then obviously we challenged him going straight to Lake County after just a small stint 354 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:23.880 in Lynchburg last year. And he was up to that challenge and you know, 355 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:27.839 really impacts the baseball like hit hit for a lot of power in the 356 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:30.680 middle of that lineup, but also just does some of the other things that 357 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:37.200 we think we think is the reason why we're so excited about this guy moving 358 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:40.839 forward. And obviously he's gotten off to you know, right right where he 359 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:44.799 left off in Akron so far a couple of games in so you know, 360 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:49.039 a really uh smart and advanced college hitter that that has been fun to watch 361 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:52.519 this year. All right, Rob, we I think we can wrap up 362 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:57.160 the Variety edition of the Minor League Report this week. Thank you so much 363 00:27:57.200 --> 00:28:00.559 for for all the updates on different Yeah, thank you, Rosie, I 364 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:06.640 appreciate it. That's ropster Folio, the Guardians director of player Development, and 365 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:10.200 we always appreciate Rop's time for our weekly farm report. Stay with us. 366 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:14.759 Our final segment comes your way shortly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio on netboard. 367 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:18.799 When you switch and save with Progressive, you could use that money towards 368 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:22.440 going and see your favorite team in the playoffs. Progressive cannot guarantee that you 369 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:25.880 can go see your favorite team in the playoffs. Drivers who switch and save 370 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.519 with Progressive could save one hundreds on average, but we cannot guarantee that your 371 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.839 favorite team will make the playoffs or if you can finish with a winning record, 372 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:33.119 they could easily lose more than half their games and finish in the cellar 373 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:36.279 because they stink badly. In havening made the playoffs in years savings very possible 374 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:40.880 playoffs highly double switch and see if you could save at Progressive dot Com Progressive 375 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.440 Keshley Insurance Afielings. It's not available in all states. We cannot be held 376 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:56.599 liable for your favorite teams. Startable and frankly embarrassing performances now wherever Bold count 377 00:28:56.680 --> 00:29:03.839 Royals again down to their last strike, Garcia and Second Base too down in 378 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:10.359 the ninth eight to five, Cleveland on the payoff pitch, a swag and 379 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:21.839 a mess bogie front door cutter got him and the Guardians keep rolling. Welcome 380 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:26.799 back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from the Rogers Center in 381 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.680 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the Guardians are taking on the Blue Jays 382 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:33.759 this weekend, and as we finish our show this week. Every once in 383 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:38.200 a while we like to check in with Guardians Senior Vice President Bob d Biassio. 384 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:45.559 Here it is another edition at the Ballpark with Bobby D. The perfectly 385 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:52.480 manicured fields, the unmistakable aroma of a ballpark hot dog, and the electricity 386 00:29:52.920 --> 00:30:00.240 celebrating another victory. This is at the Ballpark with Bobby D. The ballpark 387 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:07.920 is home to many stories, many memorable moments, and colorful personalities. Joining 388 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:12.920 me now at the ballpark is one of my dear friends, Larry Dobie Junior, 389 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:19.480 his father breaking the color barrier in the American League July fifth, nineteen 390 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:25.079 forty seven, when he went to the plate as a pinch hitter in Comiski 391 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:30.680 Park in Chicago. Larry, it's always awesome to have you back in Cleveland. 392 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:33.920 It's always good to be back here, Robert, thanks for having me. 393 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:37.240 Let's talk a little bit about your dad. I know you've done so 394 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.400 many interviews. One of the coolest things that I've heard you say over the 395 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:47.839 many years that you and I have connected is the fact that your father said 396 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:53.119 he never got booed in Cleveland, that this city truly embraced him. Yeah, 397 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:57.519 exactly. He wasn't much for telling the stories Bobby and I would try 398 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:00.359 to get him to when he wouldn't. And one day we were sitting around 399 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:03.240 and he made that statement, and I thought he was crazy because I grew 400 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:07.839 up in New York and New Jersey. They bowed Mickey Mantle and he said, 401 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:10.000 they never bowed me there. And that meant so much to me, 402 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:12.920 because that meant to me that he was theirs. He was their guy, 403 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:15.759 and whether he struck out or got a hit, they were gonna support him. 404 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:19.599 And he never forgot that. You know. Another story that you shared 405 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:27.920 was there'd be people come to your home and stars of all pro sports, 406 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:33.400 and your dad was a fan of all sports, being a four sports star 407 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:40.559 at Patterson High School in New Jersey, terrific football player, basketball player, 408 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:44.720 and also a member of the US Navy, which we cannot forget his service 409 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:48.720 to our country. Tell us and share some of the names that as a 410 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.319 kid, you were walking around the house and all of a sudden, at 411 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:53.759 the dinner table, there's some pretty special people. Yeah, but you got 412 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:56.480 to remember, Bobby, they were just my dad's friends. They weren't special 413 00:31:56.559 --> 00:32:00.519 people to me. So he'd say, you know, come home early, 414 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.839 maybe you want to, you know, meet these guys, and it would 415 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:07.440 be Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Willie Knowles, Willie Mays, don Nukeomb 416 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.559 and you know, I was just like, Okay, nice to meet you, 417 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:12.839 sir. You know my pleasure. Can I go back and play dad? 418 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:15.240 And He's like, yeah, sure, of course. In hindsight, 419 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:17.240 which we all know is twenty twenty, I wish I would have stayed there 420 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:21.359 and kind of soaked in some of the knowledge that they were, you know, 421 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.480 putting out. But you know, you just when you're a kid, 422 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:25.039 all you want to do is play when when you get the chance. So 423 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:30.079 that's what happened. And you and I have chatted about this, and I 424 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:35.039 don't think we've ever shared this with the public. So to me, it's 425 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:39.880 a remarkable story that you were both a football and baseball player and you were 426 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:45.240 trying to identify a college in which you might be able to go and play 427 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:51.759 both sports. Tell us the story about how you identified the school that you 428 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:58.359 did, the story behind Paul Harvey, remember Paul Harvey, and the rest 429 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:02.279 of the story. Well, to me, this is an incredibly interesting rest 430 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:07.559 of the story. When you sat with your father and decided to tell him 431 00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:10.599 where you were going to go to college. So I got a bunch of 432 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:15.079 offers and letters and stuff from different schools. And one of the things was 433 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:17.160 that I definitely knew I wanted to play two sports, being football and baseball, 434 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:22.920 and some schools automatically were like, well, the money's coming from football, 435 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:27.279 this is your priority, and so forth and song. And my goal 436 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.440 was to go to the best school that I could go to and if possibly 437 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:34.079 a warm weather thing. So I went to visit Duke University of North Carolina 438 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:37.839 in February. It was seventy degrees. I was sold. Then. All 439 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:42.640 the initial contact came from the football office and coach Mike McGee. And after 440 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:45.839 we had met and sat down and talked, and you know, he said, 441 00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:47.839 okay, I understand you know, baseball is pretty important to you. 442 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:54.079 He decided to sort of funnel my interest towards the baseball team because he figured, 443 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:57.960 I think that he could get two athletes for the price of one, 444 00:33:57.960 --> 00:34:00.799 because if I was on baseball scholarship, then I was going to play football. 445 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:05.039 He knew that, so that's what he did, which was pretty shrewd 446 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:08.159 on his part. So it turns out that the recruiting process had gone pretty 447 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:12.960 far. I hadn't even asked or known who the baseball coach was when it 448 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:16.079 kind of took the direction towards baseball, I found out the baseball coach was 449 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:21.880 Enis Slaughter. As people probably know, he was one of the guys who 450 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:25.599 wasn't happy when Jackie Robinson signed and put his name on a petition that they 451 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:30.239 weren't going to play, and so forth and so on. And my father 452 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:32.119 had always told me when I was younger, to treat people the way that 453 00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:36.760 they treat you, not what you hear about them, not what you think. 454 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.320 You know, give him a chance. And he said, even if 455 00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:42.599 I'm not friendly with them and they're friendly with you, that's okay. So 456 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.280 needless to say, this was a chance to put those lessons to, you 457 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:49.800 know, a true test. Yeah. And the best thing I'll say, 458 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:52.360 Bobby, is that I think the true measure of a man is not where 459 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:55.320 he begins the race, it's where he finishes it. And I have to 460 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:58.880 say that coach Slaughter, you know, finished it on the right side. 461 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:02.239 He was brought up and born into a segregated society. That was part of 462 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:05.719 his life, you know. But by the time I got to him, 463 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:07.599 you know, he was a good guy. I loved playing for him. 464 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:10.480 You know, I wouldn't have traded the experience for the world. My father, 465 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:13.920 on the other hand, you know, would always joke with me. 466 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.280 They'd see each other at old timers game and he go, I saw your 467 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:19.559 coach, you know, and stuff like that. So I think he had 468 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:22.199 forgiven, but he didn't forget, and they had it, you know, 469 00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:24.280 me in common. So I think they became a little bit more friendly over 470 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:28.679 the years. So that was part of the situation. I'm glad that I 471 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:31.239 could have helped them get a little closer. So let's get specific. On 472 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:35.840 the football field, what position did you play? I played strong safety, 473 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:38.880 and I could hit and I could run a little bit, so that you 474 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:43.440 yeah, I did. I did, almost to the point where the coach 475 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:45.199 said, you don't have to let him catch it to tackle him. You 476 00:35:45.239 --> 00:35:49.159 can block the ball not hit him. But yeah, that's kind of what 477 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:52.320 I learned. So yeah. And then in baseball, what position did you 478 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.800 play? Were you a center fielder like your dad? I played center field 479 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:58.559 like him. Yeah, you know, in a right handed hitter, switch 480 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:06.880 hitter. Yep. I've always found that story to be so remarkable. Again 481 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:12.039 for those who want to check the history books. Yeah, Ina Slaughter allegedly 482 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:19.000 was the ringleader of even wanting the boycott baseball for integration at that time. 483 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:22.159 But you said, you know, a man comes from a certain place and 484 00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:28.679 he has a chance to change, And did you integrate Duke's baseball team? 485 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:31.519 Believe it or not, Bobby, I found out long after I had graduated 486 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:35.320 that I was the first black player there. I didn't know that, and 487 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:39.760 I think ironically I was the second black player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 488 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:43.679 But you know what, I was a freshman. Those guys, you know, 489 00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:45.440 it was a lot of upperclassmen. They never made me feel different. 490 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:50.320 I had no idea. Now we were going to places and play like Valdosta, 491 00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:53.039 Georgia and places like that where it was a little crazy, but you 492 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:55.400 know, I felt like I was part of the team, and you know, 493 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:59.320 didn't have to go through the stuff my father did with not eating in 494 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:01.400 the same restaurant at the hotels. So you know, we were all together, 495 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:06.239 and you know, I'm thankful for that experience. Well, we're thankful 496 00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:09.519 that you're willing to share that. We're thankful. I'm personally thankful we have 497 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:15.079 this deep, long relationship that we have. I was one of the few 498 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:19.320 that are still here, that blessed to know your father and your mother, 499 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:24.360 Helen, and what wonderful, gracious people they were, and hoping that you 500 00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:30.679 out there all enjoyed today's at the Ballpark story. We look forward to sharing 501 00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:37.239 more at the Ballpark and the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. And that'll do it 502 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:40.920 for this week's edition of Guardians Weekly. As always, thanks to Brian Matse 503 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:45.840 for all of his help putting together our show each week. We will join 504 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:49.880 you next week when the team is back home taking on these Saint Toronto Blue 505 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:53.880 Jays at Progressive Field next weekend. Until then, this is Jim Rosenhause reminding 506 00:37:53.920 --> 00:38:00.159 you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio own 507 00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:21.440 network. Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save 508 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:53.880 hundreds on car insurance sh