WEBVTT 1 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.199 Hello, it's John here for another one of our Backflips 2 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:20.239 and Nerds interview podcasts. I've got Russell with me again. 3 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:20.960 How are you, big man? 4 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:23.320 I'm doing good. Thanks John, good, Thanks. This should be 5 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:24.480 another entertaining one. 6 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.359 Yeah, yeah, I definitely think so. Joining us this week, 7 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:30.839 we're delighted to be joined by a pitcher who made 8 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.240 his major league debut this year with the Kansas City Royals, 9 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:36.240 pitching in five games before being part of the package 10 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:39.960 that took Lucas to Casey from Oakland. He has recently 11 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:42.799 traded to his third team of the year, the Seattle Mariners. 12 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:44.679 Welcome Will Klein. Will, how are you. 13 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:48.039 I'm good, guys, thanks for having me a pleasure. 14 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:51.399 Before we get into all of the shenanigans that has 15 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:54.479 been your twenty four to twenty five, let's talk about 16 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:58.359 what you're wearing. You just popped up on this on 17 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.000 this call. Here we're in a Elsie, Jersey and you're 18 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.920 currently you know, tuning in into the background to Chelsea 19 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.760 and west Ham. So that's been a bit of a 20 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.120 bit of an icebreaker for our conversation this evening. 21 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:13.359 Yep, yeah, uncle, uncle and dad have always been in 22 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:17.000 Chelsea fans named their dog Chelsea. You know, that kind 23 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:19.040 of ran with them, and you know, when I got 24 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:23.040 high school age into college, I started to watch them 25 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:25.680 a lot, and then it's turned into having to watch 26 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:28.760 every game, even if it means four thirty Pacific time. 27 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:33.680 So yeah, well you guys get it nice. You know, 28 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:36.719 twelve thirty one o'clock games. You're like, it's perfect time 29 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:39.439 you watch watch four dinner, eating lunch, you know, and 30 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:41.879 I'm like waking up with their brinking down to catch 31 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.480 them play Burnmouth or something at four am. 32 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:47.359 You've got the opposite of us, Like, you know, we 33 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.000 we love those one o'clock starts on a Sunday evening. 34 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.599 You know that that that they're the ones we want, 35 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:55.239 not the ones that you know what one o'clock in 36 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:59.239 the morning, starting at six o'clock Pacific time or whatever. Yeah, 37 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:02.120 three o'clock in the morning. Yeah. So yeah, there you go. 38 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:06.719 We we're bonding over time shifted watching sports. How did 39 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.039 your your did you say, is your dad and your granddad? 40 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:09.879 How how did they. 41 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:15.439 Start with Chelsea funds? Yeah, dad and uncle. Yeah, I'm 42 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.439 not entirely sure how my uncle really started. Uh, but 43 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:20.840 he's been over to London a couple of times, and 44 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.879 I think just he's he's got a bit of the 45 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:28.759 same I don't know, not like British attitude, but like 46 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.240 kind of a little bit more in in that culture. 47 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:32.680 And he's been over there quite a few times, and 48 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:36.240 just I mean he brought that back over over to us, 49 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:38.039 and you know, being around them for like holidays and 50 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:41.000 stuff and watching them on like Boxing Day and all that, 51 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:43.960 and that kind of kind of started for me. And 52 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:46.080 so it was it was a good go when I 53 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.240 first started watching with with Hazzard and you know, getting 54 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.680 the you know, Champions League in twenty but past previous 55 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:54.960 year or so has been kind of kind of brutal. 56 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.080 We're back. 57 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.719 Yeah, Well it's interesting that, you know, it's just sort 58 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.319 of thinking and thinking there that maybe you're the next 59 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:04.120 guy in the Dodgers, right with the Chelsea connection, that yeah, 60 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:05.199 you know, the next guy. 61 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:11.360 Oh yeah, no, I mean he's treating that's gonna bean. 62 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.080 It's it's kind of the same attitude he said with 63 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.599 with Chelsea is just you know, buying everybody. I want 64 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.719 wonder how much of Enzo's contracted deferred now, but I 65 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:21.120 don't know. 66 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:24.560 Yeah, the contract deferrals are every Also, the other thing 67 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.039 Will is you're not a seventeen year old Brazilian those 68 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:30.360 are those are the only players that told Boy signs. Yeah, 69 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:34.120 aging aging relievers. So you're at the wrong end of 70 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:35.000 your career. 71 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:37.360 And old for his projects. 72 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:42.400 Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. It's going to say here your guys, 73 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:44.639 but you're right out there with with Eaton Hazard. 74 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:49.159 I mean, that's that's where we started him, Diego Costo, 75 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:53.240 like Marcus Alonzo and all all the good and as 76 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.240 Bloquetta and I mean when they had when they had Kepper. 77 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:00.120 I would much rather have Kepper right now with all 78 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.840 the trouble he gave us over. 79 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:06.560 He's doing all right, all right, yea having. 80 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.280 A pretty dark good year actually. 81 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:11.319 Yeah yeah, uh yeah. And we were saying just before 82 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:12.800 we started recording that we were going to ask you 83 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.960 about Cole Palmer. I'm in Manchester right now, so you 84 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:17.759 know he's the guy, the one that got away from 85 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:21.360 from City. So yeah, he's your guy right now. Palmer. 86 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.079 Yeah, I mean he I'd never seen a guy come 87 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.360 in and just completely you know, change a team like 88 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.759 he has, Like I don't know, I don't know what 89 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:32.360 he eats for bread. I mean he probably chips for breakfast. 90 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:34.319 He's got, you know, nothing going on up there, but 91 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:40.439 sometimes that's what you gotta. That's that's like the right attitude. 92 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:43.399 It's like your kitchen basketball like there's nothing like attached 93 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:45.959 to the sport. It's like I'm I'm good, I go 94 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:47.720 kill it. And then it's like, all right, you know 95 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.560 what am I doing for dinner time or something? 96 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:52.399 Yeah, he's just thinking about horses. 97 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:55.279 In he yeah, alright, ready to go home. Like that, 98 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:59.160 that's the same attitude. It's it's crazy and yeah, it's 99 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:00.839 a guys, it's ridiculous. 100 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:05.839 He certainly is living in Manchester. There are a lot 101 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:08.879 of guys like him here, but they don't have his 102 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:11.079 talent on the football field. So what it is that 103 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:15.839 they're doing with their time, who knows. Brilliant. So I'm 104 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:17.759 sure we might come back to Chelsea. We might not, 105 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:22.680 but let's how we'll keep us, keep us posted. We're 106 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:25.480 saying at the start, my team a rubbish football team. 107 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:27.480 No one wants to hear about them. They creep into 108 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.199 this podcast far too often. A second manager today, So 109 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:32.240 maybe you can give us a bit more joy on 110 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:35.600 the football front. And whilst we have this conversation, so yeah, Will, 111 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:38.879 it's been a it's been an eventful year for you. 112 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.240 We're outlined a little bit at the top, so you know, 113 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.120 started starting with the grand Stand back in April, make 114 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:47.720 your big League debut. You know, fast forward nine months 115 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:51.040 and you're you're on your third team. So how how's that? 116 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:53.600 As a player, that's that must feel like an absolute 117 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.759 rollercoaster to be going through in real time. 118 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:59.759 Yeah, I mean to say the least, I mean kind 119 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.680 of going back to soccer like the last year jal 120 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:07.240 Felix has had, you know, Barcelona, Chelsea, back to Spain, 121 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.759 back to Chelsea now loan to Milan today, which kind 122 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.360 of sacks I like him. But uh yeah, like I've 123 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.839 been with the Royals since twenty and no like semblance 124 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.199 of like the worst thing I had is like, oh, 125 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.120 am I gonna get like called up to double or 126 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.480 triple A? Or am I gonna like performing poorly? Am 127 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:27.079 I gonna go back down? Like stuff like that? But 128 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.480 you never, like never once did the thought cross my mind, like, oh, 129 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.279 I'm gonna have to go to a whole new team, 130 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.240 meet a whole bunch of new people, like all the 131 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:37.120 guys in the system, like all my best friends are here, 132 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.240 so it's like, you know, that sense of comfort and 133 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.720 like haven't had to like move round a whole lot 134 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.360 and then boom, trade dead like comes last day. I'm 135 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:49.600 like all right, like I haven't done a whole lot, 136 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.639 you know, I'm just hanging out. I got gotten on 137 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:56.040 the bus to go to Chicago's. We were playing the 138 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:58.360 White Sox and I got a phone call from JJ 139 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.240 and I look at my phone and like, oh no, oh, 140 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:03.040 like me and the guy who was sitting next to 141 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.319 you saw his name pop up. More like I just 142 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:09.839 got traded, and you know, like that kind of turned 143 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.120 turned the season on on its head a little bit. 144 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.120 But uh, I mean it was a good month getting 145 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.639 getting over to Oakland. Got some opportunities up there that 146 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.720 I'm not sure I would have if I had stayed 147 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:21.800 in Kansas City, just because what they're looking for at 148 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.800 the time and like trying to you know, make a 149 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.519 playoff push and all that. So it was good that way, 150 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.680 and then you know, they give me the opportunity to 151 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:32.319 go to Seattle. But yeah, like I think my wife 152 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.879 counted we moved eight ish times last year, like debut 153 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.040 back down to Omaha, back up, back down, back up 154 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.879 a third time when they got hurt. Traded then to 155 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.639 Vegas and it's easy. And then now you know, traded 156 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.480 to Seattle. So it's people don't see that that side 157 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.519 of it, how much like movement, movement is going on 158 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.839 behind the scenes and all that. But uh, you know, 159 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:56.040 it made us realize we got a pack liner this year, 160 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.160 that's for sure. 161 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.680 Say you actually got a message from your u GM. 162 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:04.920 First you didn't find it out via a Jeff pass 163 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:06.560 and tweet that you were being traded. 164 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.639 No, I got, I got the I got the text, 165 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:13.519 and then I got oh, I got I got a 166 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.560 phone call, and they're like, yeah, we're getting her seg. 167 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:17.480 I'm like, oh, I mean that's very he's pretty good. 168 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:22.360 So uh took my took my butt over to Oakland 169 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.120 and then yep, and then this last one, I mean 170 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:26.639 the last one was a little more of a shock 171 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:30.120 because like, obviously I had just gotten traded Oakland. You know, 172 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.320 I thought there was gonna a little more time here. Uh, 173 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:37.200 you know, just having gotten here and and all that. 174 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:40.440 But uh, you know it's they they signed Hosey the Clerk, 175 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.320 another good player, you know, one Texas a ring. So 176 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.399 it's like you know they're trying to improve and it's 177 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:49.759 part of the part of the game. And so hoping 178 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:50.480 Sattle is the. 179 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.159 Fit we've got, We've got our fingers crossed for you. 180 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:56.200 So we want to talk a little bit about what 181 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.159 that means for you in terms of the off season 182 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:02.799 during during the course of of this conversation, but before 183 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:05.759 we get into how your off seasons being, how you 184 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.480 approach it, and how or whether that's changed with the Mariners, 185 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.720 the place to start with with someone like you Will, 186 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.000 who call up is so recent is is to to 187 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:17.960 start with that story. It's always like, it never gets 188 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.519 boring listening to big leagues talk about you know what 189 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:24.919 what what what their particular circumstances were when they found 190 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:27.039 out that it was the tap on the shoulder for 191 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:27.879 them today. 192 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:31.720 Oh, I'm sure other other people have, you know, cool 193 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:36.039 like call to the manager's office video recording. You know, hey, 194 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.799 you want to go point the big league story, but no, 195 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:42.720 we uh, we had had a ten am start for 196 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:45.720 Paul Skian's day. It was our I think either Tuesday 197 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.039 or Wednesdays. You know, we do uh, we do like 198 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.080 kids' days, and it just so happened. We point the 199 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.399 Indians Triple A in so we're paul skiing, so is 200 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:56.519 packed out. Kids don't schemes. I think I will intimidate 201 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:00.960 because he gave his first run. But no, we had 202 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.360 we had ten to nam game done by like one 203 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.759 or two, and so we were just hanging out. I 204 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.519 was playing video games with my roommate, you know, I 205 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.639 was eating eating dinner. I think it was like nine o'clock, 206 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.120 nine nine thirty, eating Chipotle in our apartment, and I 207 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:17.519 get a call from our manager like, hey, you gotta 208 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:19.120 go to Kansas City tomorrow. They got a day game. 209 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.320 I'm like, what are you serious. He's like no, I'm 210 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:26.200 just kidding I but he's like, no, you got to 211 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.759 go to Kansas City tomorrow. They got like a one 212 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:32.080 o'clock day game. You know they need it. They need 213 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:34.759 an arm out marsh at the time, it got hurt, 214 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.000 but uh you don't. You don't care how you just 215 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.399 you only care when you get to go up. So 216 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.159 I was like, all right, I'm gonna go. But my 217 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:44.759 wife had our car, so it's impossible to move around 218 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:46.879 with two cars. And she was, you know, still back 219 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.399 home in uh In, Missouri, finishing up school. And so 220 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.799 I'm like I don't have a car, Like what do 221 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.879 I do? And so like try to get a rental 222 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.559 car like ten thirty pm and try to get all 223 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.440 that in order. And so I don't don't think I 224 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.679 went to bed until well think I tried to go 225 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.960 to bed until like twelve. I don't know if I 226 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:07.720 ever did really go to go to bed, but uh, yeah, 227 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.000 it was. It was. I mean the conversation is pretty 228 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.120 funn I won't do my Jersey impression, but it was it. 229 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.879 He yeah, he was just like kind of messing with 230 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:20.440 me a little bit, and it was but actually you 231 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.639 got to get there by like ten am Tomorrow's like, 232 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.720 oh my god. And it was it was like I 233 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.480 had the whole day to find this out and it's 234 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.120 like ten pm now and it's stressing out about all this, 235 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:33.879 you know, couldn't couldn't sleep. But uh, like it's not 236 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:36.720 the in your mind, like you picture like getting called 237 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.759 into the manager's office and like everyone saw like Jackson 238 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.759 Holiday get caught up and and and stuff like that. Uh, 239 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:46.039 but it's like no, you just get a phone call 240 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.360 from your manager at ten pm and show up the 241 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.799 next day. But uh, it was great. Uh when that 242 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:54.080 first game ended up being a five inning rain out, 243 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:59.120 So that was a fun first one to experience. Uh 244 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.559 but uh no, was you know, it was? It was great. 245 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.759 I mean I wouldn't trade that for for anything. But yeah, 246 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.120 it wasn't anything like crazier the ones you see on 247 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.480 social media. But you know, everyone, everyone's different. 248 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:14.120 Yeah, I imagine that you came out of the clubhouse 249 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:17.840 that day on Skien's day, packed out. You probably didn't 250 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:19.440 think that you were going to be the one of 251 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:21.519 the two of you. Was he was going to be 252 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:24.840 on a big league within the next week or so. 253 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.240 I mean, no, that's a good way to think about that. 254 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:28.759 That's funny. 255 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.879 Yeah, so there you go, right. I mean it may 256 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.080 have something to do with the nickel and diming of 257 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:35.360 the Pittsburgh Pirates, but but you're a big league before 258 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.840 pol Skien, so you'll always have that. 259 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.279 I'll hold that over him. Yeah. And it was funny 260 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.919 too because I knew I'm from Indy and that's where 261 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:45.000 the Indians Triple A is and so I knew a 262 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:49.559 couple of those guys like they're from my area back 263 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.120 home that I had trained with one. So it's like 264 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:53.519 and he was starting like two days later, so like, 265 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:55.440 I mean, I was excited to get to like watch 266 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.919 him start and like you know face one of my buddies, 267 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.519 and it's like, well, I'd rather be going doing this, 268 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:04.120 but I'm sorry, I'm sorry I missed that. But no, 269 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:06.279 it was it was pretty pretty pretty sweet. 270 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:10.679 I'm sure he wouldn't hold that over you. Yeah, so 271 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.519 you you went into a pretty good clubhouse at that time. 272 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.720 You know that the beginning of last year that was 273 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:19.320 a smoking hot team, one of the best in baseball. 274 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.679 It must have been a fun clubhouse to be joining 275 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.120 when when that team was was really rolling. 276 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:29.159 Yeah. Absolutely. Uh. I mean you had a good group 277 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:33.159 of like old pitchers like with Lugo Waka Will Smith 278 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.879 in the in the bull and like all those guys 279 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.559 had so much experience. Uh, and then you had like 280 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:44.159 the young guys with Reagan's Alec marsh Singer and then 281 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.600 all the other guys like with Zipa and some of 282 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:49.039 the other ones in the bullpen MacArthur and like all 283 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.480 those guys were great to like help on both ends, 284 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:54.080 like the experience, you know, the youth. But then you're 285 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:57.159 just going outside and it's just Bobby and he's like 286 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:59.240 he's like the heart and soul of the team, and you're like, 287 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.679 how is he doing everything that he's like doing at 288 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.879 twenty four to twenty five. It's I mean, it's the 289 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:07.159 craziest thing you'll ever see on a baseball field. And 290 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:11.480 I mean I remember one one of those games. It's 291 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.360 it was I think we're playing the Mariners, and we 292 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:16.799 were down like seven through like the seventh or eighth inning. 293 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.600 We're down seven like the first inning, and then we 294 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.639 came back and it's like where Bobby hits like a 295 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:23.799 double in the gap and he just like flies and 296 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:26.320 like it has like that Superman picture of him diving 297 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.840 to third base and end up coming back and winning 298 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:31.000 like nine to seven with like a walk off hit, 299 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.399 and it's like he kind of gets the whole team going. 300 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:35.720 And then you get in the clubhouse and he's like 301 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.559 a kid like there's no like he's no like there's 302 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:41.360 no like uptight, like I'm better I three hundred million 303 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:45.799 dollar contract like kind of attitude. It's he's having fun 304 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:49.320 playing baseball, like it's a backyard game for like thirteen 305 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.720 year old kids, Like it's it's great and it kind 306 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:54.519 of makes you take to have that same attitude too, 307 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.080 which definitely helped like the whole team. Uh, just kind 308 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.919 of having fun with it. 309 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:04.440 Amazing to hear, like I was gonna ask specifically about him, 310 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.879 but you sort of beat me to the punch. It's 311 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.519 it's amazing that guy who has that he just has 312 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:10.639 that aura, doesn't he like he you know that he 313 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.759 is him thing like that that applies to to Bobby Wait, 314 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:16.559 like he's he's a superstar on and off the field, 315 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.960 but then you know, amazing to hear that he's just 316 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.919 you know, one of the guys just a do for 317 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.399 a kid in the clubhouse. 318 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.799 Yeah. Yeah, he's like he's he's so nice and like 319 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:29.120 he's welcoming and I mean he's just like a friendly 320 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.399 to everyone too, which you don't see all the time 321 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:33.840 with some of these superstar Like some guys are serious 322 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:37.039 to keep themselves, which you know works too. But to 323 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.399 have like a guy that you want to be like 324 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.840 the face of your franchise and to also be like 325 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.879 one of the best clubhouse guys in the game, like 326 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:47.159 that all plays a role in the team's success and 327 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:50.399 in the future success that they'll have with him. 328 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.320 And he mentioned when I first brought up the clubhouse 329 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.600 guys like Walker, guys like Seth Lugo, Will Smith. It 330 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.240 must have been a of an education for you to 331 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.399 be sharing a bullpen with those guys, to to be, 332 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:06.200 you know, picking up tips and drinks guys, you know, 333 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:09.440 particularly guys like like Lugo who totally reinvented themselves. Right, 334 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:12.000 you must just be signing and watching and thinking, right, 335 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.960 how do I how do I get some of this 336 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.720 through a rebuff on me? 337 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.519 Yeah? Yeah, I remember I like first couple of days 338 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.480 in camp, like I was, I would play catch with 339 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:24.759 Lugo and the guy has he had twelve different pitches. 340 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:28.039 I swear he had two fastballs, two change ups, two sliders, 341 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:32.240 two curveballs, uh you know, a cutter like it was, 342 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:34.840 and he would throw them all and they'd all be sharp, 343 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:37.480 and they'd all be you know, in the general area 344 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.080 he wanted them to be. And I'm like, what, like 345 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.360 how like some some guys, He's like, yeah, well I 346 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:44.759 just added this one, and you know I added that 347 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:46.639 one in the pottery that I could just do whatever 348 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.399 I wanted. And so that's and so he started throwing 349 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:51.879 them all in game, and you know, like what he 350 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:53.960 would throw to, like what side the hitter, what kind 351 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:56.840 of hitter, you know, stuff like that, but everyone knows 352 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:59.360 he's got like just an absolute bang over curveball. So 353 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.799 that was more what I what I talked to him about, 354 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:04.039 and so I definitely got some some tips and tricks 355 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:07.160 for that just being around them, but just like how 356 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:10.079 they prepare, Like I mean, you've seen the picture of 357 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.000 them going over his notebook like post start, like all 358 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:15.200 the starters in the dugout like going over and it's 359 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.799 like that just kind of attitude, uh, and like what 360 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:21.079 he brings or what him and like walking other guys 361 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.279 would bring to like scattered port meetings pre series and 362 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:26.680 stuff like that. Was was really great to see. 363 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.599 No, I was gonna say, was there any familiar faces 364 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.279 though when you went into there? Was there anybody that 365 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:36.240 you'd played with at the lower levels that you didn't 366 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.519 feel like you were walking in a room and being like, oh, 367 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.200 like I don't know anybody here. 368 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.680 Yeah? There were there were definitely some obviously like Massy Vinnie, 369 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:48.440 like we were all on that high team together. Who 370 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:52.079 else we have? Mikel was on that team. Uh who 371 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:57.039 they have? I mean? And MJ was gone, Dyron was there, 372 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:01.519 Blanco and then like Arthur I'd played with and Triple 373 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:04.880 the year before, and then like Stettter was Mitch Stetters 374 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.319 end up being the ball coach, had worked at the 375 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.160 complex for a couple of years, and so it's just like, yeah, 376 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.359 seeing those faces and then you know, getting to be 377 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:14.279 around him and big League camp and stuff and getting 378 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:17.400 familiar with them there too helped. And so yeah, that 379 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:21.039 that helped. He definitely be a little less nervous, which 380 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:23.680 was great because you know, it's it's still the same game, 381 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.279 but there's a lot more pressure at that level. And 382 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.799 so yeah, having having those guys around definitely helped. 383 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:33.160 And and it's just circling back back to logo for 384 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.799 a second. Was there anyone that he and Walker? Was 385 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:38.880 there any any hitter who you like, I don't know 386 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.759 about this guy? What am I doing with this guy? 387 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.400 When when you when you when you were in the 388 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:44.319 back of Seth's notebook, who was it that you were 389 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.079 trying to get the hit? The tips and anyone that 390 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.720 he had? Those guys helped you get out. 391 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.400 No, It's it's hard to attack hitters the way he does, 392 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:59.440 because I mean, I was different you down twelve pitches, right, No, 393 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:02.559 I'm like I've got fastball, kurbal slider, he's got four 394 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:10.640 seam sinker cutter, giro sweeper, twelve six slur circle change splitter, 395 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:14.880 And I'm like, uh and so, no, it was there 396 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.519 wasn't anything like in particular, just kind of like more 397 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:19.920 how he worked like hitters, like in and out, up 398 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.759 and down, you know, makeing a little triangle like you 399 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:25.599 want to go up down, love side, down armside, and 400 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.079 just kind of like working kind of working hitters in 401 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:30.599