WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.240 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabrielle with you 2 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:04.480 on a Friday edition of a program. It is a 3 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:08.199 special edition because the Chain Gang is here. They are 4 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:10.880 on deck waiting in the garage. They will join us 5 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:14.480 after the next break. Doug Flynn, Keith Madison, the Hall 6 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:17.160 of Fame UK coach Doug of course, my broadcast partner 7 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.640 on UK Baseball on the SEC Plus, and the radio 8 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.440 voice of the Wildcats, Darren Hedrick, who may or may 9 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:26.920 not be finished for the season. We'll find out Monday, 10 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.879 starting at noon. That's when the Baseball Selection Show is. 11 00:00:31.239 --> 00:00:34.320 We'll find out if the Wildcats are going to be 12 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.399 in the tournament. They could have helped themselves so much 13 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:40.759 down the stretch, but instead, well, they lost, of course, 14 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:43.960 all three against Vanderbilt. They lost their only game in 15 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:47.679 the SEC tournament, so now they're back kind of teetering, 16 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:51.320 although Darren has been pretty confident from everything he's heard 17 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:54.280 and read that the Wildcats are not only not on 18 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.840 the bubble, but they're safely in. So we'll get his 19 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:00.079 opinion on net. But we'll find out for certain on 20 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.000 Monday afternoon. But we will talk about a lot of 21 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.239 other things other than UK baseball with the Chain Gang 22 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:09.000 coming up, including music we always do. If you've heard 23 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:12.000 the Chain Gang, you know that they select walk up 24 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:15.640 music that I supply through my little equipment here in 25 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:18.159 the garage. And then we talk some music, because all 26 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:22.599 of these guys are music, especially Keith Madison, which might 27 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.640 surprise you being a Hall of Fame baseball coach, but 28 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.920 he is a real real music wonk of all kinds. 29 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:34.079 Doug and Darren of course kind of straight toward country music. 30 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:37.799 I'm all over the map myself, but coach is a 31 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:42.359 big it has a very eclectic taste in music. So 32 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.920 we'll talk about that tonight with all three of them 33 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:47.640 and play some music. I will tell you this now. 34 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:51.920 If you're listening via podcast, we appreciate that, but you're 35 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.719 not going to hear the music because there are copyright 36 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.719 laws in place. We can no longer play contemporary music. 37 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:03.079 Whatever music you might via the podcast is generic. There 38 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.159 are no rights fees involved. So if you're listening via 39 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:12.280 Apple or Spotify, whatever, we cannot play the music. You'll 40 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.080 get a separate, separately edited edition. But if you're listening 41 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.120 on the radio, again, which we appreciate and we generally 42 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:22.560 replay the Chain Gang shows on a best of situation 43 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.400 which I will later on in the summer. You'll hear it. 44 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.840 So I always think it's the entertaining one of the 45 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.400 many entertaining parts of the Chain Gang and their contributions 46 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:35.840 to the Big Blue Insider. A couple of news notes 47 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:38.479 before we hit the break and listen to these guys. 48 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:44.280 College football playoff. The folks in charge made a decision 49 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:47.599 on Thursday. The conference commissioners voted to go to a 50 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:53.599 straight seating format. Five spots still reserved for conference champions 51 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:58.000 in twenty twenty five. But it's not going to be 52 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:02.439 like it was last year, when clearly the seating was off. 53 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.199 There were blowouts, there were teams that got buys that, 54 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:08.199 in terms of how good they were or not, didn't 55 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.680 deserve it. But if you looked at last year's playoff 56 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:16.080 seating with this year's new format, Penn State, Oregon, Texas, 57 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:19.879 and Georgia would have gotten the buys. SMU would not, 58 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.919 Indiana would not, Boise State would not have gotten a buy. 59 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:26.240 So you kind of saw that coming, didn't You Have 60 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.840 One other note, we're gonna talk SEC baseball coming up. 61 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.159 One of the best pitchers ever in the SEC Paul 62 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.759 Skeens now Pittsburgh Pirates, their GM says, no way are 63 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.280 we gonna trade that guy? The chain gags next in 64 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:44.879 six thirty w a p. Now we get together every 65 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:49.240 night on text messaging. I think Darren Europe to where 66 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:50.919 you're staying up the latest, I think. 67 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:51.759 That probably yeh. 68 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.879 By the way, at the time I got, I'm up 69 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.280 there and I'm working on my little iPad and looking 70 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.159 all right, it's time to go to sleep. Put that 71 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:07.039 thing down. I've been a good sleeps. Lights go on 72 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:12.360 and everything, and Darren's words go on, Well the pad 73 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:17.759 come okay, cifications at night? 74 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.040 So I need help. You need to help me do that? 75 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:23.639 Well, I need help on I have two chain gang groups. 76 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:26.519 Yeah, you need to do that. 77 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:29.639 I don't know. But somebody's got any fixed fault, isn't 78 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.160 it probably? Or is it Key's faulty? 79 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:35.519 Find a twelve year old. They'll fix your phone for you. 80 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.920 So some of some of y'all's messages I get. Some 81 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:38.800 of the I don't get. 82 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:40.480 I mean, we don't send you a lot of them too. 83 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:44.000 Yeah, the one we're talking about you, we leave you 84 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.439 out and we're talking about you. You don't get on yeah, 85 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.439 but uh yeah, so we we decide we get together 86 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.040 in the garage. Many of you have heard it. I've 87 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:55.079 gotten a lot of comments, which we appreciate. People enjoy 88 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.439 the chain gang, and we talk as much music as 89 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:02.120 we do sports, and and we talk about of course 90 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.879 personal experiences and and Doug. I was thinking about you. Well, 91 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:10.439 I'm always thinking about Doug. But earlier today my broadcast 92 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:14.079 partner on TV. But I saw a couple of guys 93 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:19.480 talking on the interweb telling stories about gloves, and apparently 94 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:23.480 Nick Allen of the Pirates breaks in and uses one 95 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:25.800 new glovey year. Did you do that or did you 96 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:27.600 keep you kept yours going? I thought you told me 97 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.240 about that the last one. I used it for the 98 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:30.319 last seven years. 99 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:34.399 Wow ye. And I mean it's got tape on it 100 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.519 and I had to have it stitched up and everything. 101 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:41.079 Once you get a glove, I mean, I wasn't gonna 102 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:42.639 make any money with my bat, so I better take 103 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.839 care of my glove. So once you get that fix 104 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.639 the way you want it, you don't want to And 105 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.360 you know what always gets me pictures. I feel like 106 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.879 they got to take around balls like you would come 107 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:58.560 over and grab my glove. And now that you put 108 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:00.839 that big paw of theirs in there, it's all stretched 109 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.639 down a whack. But yeah, I would get four gloves 110 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.000 a year from back in those days. They'd give me four, 111 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:10.480 and i'd give them. I'd have my spare glove. You 112 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.120 got four, You're not gonna let me borrow one night. No, 113 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.000 I'm gonna give it. I've given you a new one. 114 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.000 But don't be messing with my gamer. 115 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:21.279 It's not bad form, bad baseball form to grab somebody else's. 116 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.160 Grab somebody else's bad. Oh. 117 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.279 But you know, back in the day when we were 118 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.079 coming up, I mean you didn't have your selection of 119 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:34.160 bats and gloves. You had a glove and a bat, 120 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.800 and so you were if you saw something loose, you're 121 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.600 gonna grab it, right. 122 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:40.120 Keith, That's right? Yeah, and I grab yours. 123 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:43.560 So anyway, but I do to give those four away 124 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:45.319 to the minor league kids, and then i'd keep I 125 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.319 had my spare I take in field with, and I 126 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:48.040 had my game glove. 127 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:50.160 Well did you do you still have that glove? They 128 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:51.399 still have it? Last seven years? 129 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:51.680 Yep. 130 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:53.319 Got they said that. 131 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:55.839 I retired en after the gold glove, and then I 132 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.199 used another one my last couple of years. 133 00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:59.480 Well, see, and you told me that before, and I 134 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:01.680 would have thought you might have kept that because it 135 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.879 was the gold glove glove. 136 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.480 Yeah, but it was. It was a little nappy, it 137 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.480 was dip it. 138 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.199 And I still have my little league glove no way. 139 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:12.120 Yeah, I have like a mitten. It's like it's got 140 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:13.160 a big thumb. I remember. 141 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:17.079 So, hey, this is true. I went to a baseball 142 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:18.879 camp one night and these little kids were there, and 143 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.199 some of them didn't have gloves, and so I took mine, 144 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.920 and I told this little kid, where's your glove. I 145 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.279 don't have one here. He used mine. He looked me too, 146 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:29.360 little nine year old kid. 147 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:32.360 Yeah, I've got my my little league glove, my high 148 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:35.319 school glove. I've got one of the gloves I used 149 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.600 when I played in the miners. 150 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.199 And and then. 151 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:42.959 I've got a UK glove that was given to me 152 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.319 because I threw batting practice a lot back in the Yeah, 153 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.079 I remember, but I just saved it by the way. 154 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.240 He threw lousy batt and he couldn't throw the ball 155 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:57.000 straight right. He throws sinkers, clutters and everybody's going to 156 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:58.879 tea just we just went bad practice, trying to get 157 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:01.360 guys out. But what I mean, what are they gonna 158 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.000 see in the game. That's why it's not pitching practice. 159 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.399 It's batting practice. I know, but you don't. 160 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:10.399 But then they go into a game with bad confidence. Yeah, 161 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.319 I couldn't hit and bat in practice. I can't in 162 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:12.680 the game. 163 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.879 We can't hit that old guy out there. 164 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:17.480 We go let these young guys out here doing Darren, 165 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:18.600 what's your glove story. 166 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:20.920 I don't really have one. I mean, I had a 167 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.040 glove when I was little, but I still have it somewhere, 168 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.839 but I didn't play you know, any high level organized baseball. 169 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.439 I've still got it laying around. Yeah, yees, sometay. I 170 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.960 want to be like Doug when I grow up. 171 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.879 So I had I had a glove that I loved 172 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.720 thirty years. It was, you know, just what I need, 173 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.120 and I wore it out, literally, I mean the pocket itself. 174 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:46.240 So I go to go to buy a new glove 175 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:49.200 and you know, you save your money, your paper out 176 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.679 money or whatever, and I just could not make it. 177 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.559 Finally bought it and didn't like it. I couldn't get 178 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:57.840 it broken in, couldn't stand it. I guess that was 179 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:01.600 I was probably thirteen fourteen, and I came home one 180 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.559 day and my dog gets showed it up. Oh no, 181 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.799 the dog thought I'd you mad. The dog was cowering 182 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.360 in the corner and seeing I had spent this money, 183 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:14.519 and I could not justify not using the glove because 184 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.600 I spent my money. When the dog shooted up like 185 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.480 good boy, I get to go buy a new one. 186 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:22.320 And I kept that one for twenty years. So, uh, 187 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:27.679 Nick Allen, According to the story, Sorry, I've got to 188 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:28.519 hang on. 189 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:32.679 I'm not sure I know Nick Allen. 190 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:40.799 Is that Dick Allen's brother, got it? It's Mel Allen's brother, Richard. 191 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:45.039 Don't call me Dick Allen. Yeah, Dick, don't call me Richard. 192 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:49.559 All Right, here we go. Not only does does he 193 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:52.799 get a new one every year, but he won't use 194 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.480 it in BP and warm ups and things. 195 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.480 Were you the same way? 196 00:09:58.519 --> 00:09:59.600 It was game only. 197 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:04.159 H after so many years? Yeah, yeah, so you had 198 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:06.039 to you had one. You go out from VPN and 199 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:07.759 you were still trying to break that one in as 200 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.919 much as you could. And the the leather was pretty 201 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.200 good back then. You know, it lasted a long time. Yeah, 202 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:17.159 I still have it. I got it. It's and it's 203 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.480 amazing how it looks. But I looked at guys. I 204 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:23.440 remember Bill Mazeroski. I got a chance to see his 205 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:25.840 glove one time. He'd walk out through the field. He'd 206 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.840 have it rolled up like a paper towel in his 207 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.799 back pocket and bring that thing out. It was so flat, 208 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:36.039 and you it's very rarely. Will you put on somebody 209 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:40.080 else's glove for me? Yeah? And say what that feels good? 210 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:41.000 Yeah? 211 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.840 Because you had your own hands and everything. You broke 212 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:45.480 it in the way you wanted and so yeah, just 213 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.600 I mean, I still love the smell of it too. 214 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:52.919 Oh yeah, yeah, you know. Uh. George H. W. Bush's 215 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:56.039 baseball glove is on display at his presidential library, the 216 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:57.279 one that he used at Yale. 217 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.639 Really you can see it. I offered mind to the 218 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.480 Reds and the Met's Hall of Fame. 219 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:06.279 They went, no, thank you, And your name is. 220 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:09.039 What. 221 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:13.240 One of my favorite writers still is Dave Kind and 222 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:16.600 Kendred wrote a book called Glove Stories, and it was 223 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:19.639 just a collection of great baseball stories. And he's the 224 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:24.720 guy who in retirement started covering a middle school girls 225 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.120 basketball team up in his hometown in Illinois. And on 226 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:31.120 Facebook post stories. But he was such a great baseball 227 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.240 in golf. I mean he's a great writer, yes, But 228 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:37.320 he keeps his high school myth. He played high school 229 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:41.120 baseball second base, and he keeps his mitt with a 230 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.200 ball in it next to his computer. He used to 231 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:46.639 be his typewriter. And when he needed to think about 232 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.039 you know, what's what was he going to say if 233 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.639 he was, you know, locked up on something, he get up, 234 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.559 put the glove on, walk around. That's right, coach, and 235 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:57.159 just take a baseball and just you know, slam it 236 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.759 into his glove. I mean, what what better therapy? Right? 237 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.320 Yeah. The way they make gloves now is really good 238 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.000 because when we got them around the hill, there would 239 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.440 be a lot of padding in the heel of the glove, yes, 240 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:10.360 and so you'd have to take a bat and sit 241 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:12.039 there and pound it and pound it and pound it 242 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.679 and pound it down because we weren't smart enough to 243 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:18.320 unlace it and take it out. Today they just don't 244 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.440 put it in there anymore. It's so it's flat, which 245 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.879 is good because a lot of balls hit off of 246 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.480 that part of the glove. Now it's all flat, and 247 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:28.000 glu gloves are really nice now, Oh, they certainly are. 248 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.879 Where did I read that Bill Mazeroski's glove. Really it 249 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:33.240 was about the size of his hand. 250 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:36.120 It's a little bit it was flat though. Oh really, Yeah, 251 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.559 he just he'd wind that thing up like a paper towel, 252 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.320 put it in his back pocket and go out. And uh. 253 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.480 Then you look at his video because when he played, 254 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:45.279 a lot of guys will form their gloves, you know, 255 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:49.960 certain ways. It was almost like flat and uh. 256 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:51.240 But he just gave more control. 257 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:54.080 I guess, well, it's good for a double play, because 258 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.960 we know a double play. You just the ball didn't 259 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:59.840 really touch the very long but he had a way 260 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.679 he folded and catch the ball that was off to 261 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:02.159 the side. 262 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:05.519 But I saw Ozzy Smith explaining as an old clip 263 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:07.879 from I guess the Baseball Bunch or something like that. 264 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:13.240 But Johnny Bench how he saw another player do this 265 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:18.799 and developed that knack for not even holding the ball 266 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.720 in his MIT when the buck he would just sort 267 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:23.960 of accept the ball with his MIT and almost instantaneously 268 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.279 switch it over to his throwing hand. 269 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:27.919 Yeah, you practice, I mean when you're just passing, and 270 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:30.559 you tell young kids today, if you're just throwing work 271 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.759 on that, work on really exchange. That's where you learn 272 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.080 to do it. You know, you get your exchange while 273 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:38.120 you're out there just playing them when the game comes. 274 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:43.480 Ozzie Smith had the greatest pregame workout routine that I 275 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:47.120 ever saw of any baseball player. Yeah, and I'm talking 276 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:49.679 about ground balls. I mean it was short hops, backhand, 277 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.879 short hops to the glove side. He'd back up and 278 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.480 take some he turned double plays and when you watched him, 279 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:58.039 you're going, that's pretty special. 280 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:58.840 Yeah, he had a plan. 281 00:13:59.200 --> 00:13:59.679 He had a plan. 282 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.000 Well, we are talking to the chain gang here in 283 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:06.919 the garage, and when we come back, we'll talk more baseball, 284 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.120 specifically Kentucky baseball. Up next. Hearing the Big Blue and 285 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.240 Sider six thirty WLAP. 286 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.480 I was ready to get up and walk around the 287 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.720 room like Mick Jagger with you. 288 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:21.080 Oh you've got let me get my phone ready for the. 289 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:23.879 Satisfaction was number thirty one on the Rolling Stones five 290 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:29.200 hundred Greatest Songs of All Time. And it was kind 291 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:32.080 of controversy. You remember that came out. Yeah, you guys 292 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:35.080 are a little bit older, Yeah, but uh yeah. 293 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.200 It was. 294 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.039 It was part of the movement. 295 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:43.080 You know, the Stones were igy, Yeah back in those days. 296 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:48.559 Now they're just like another rock band, another eighty. 297 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:52.559 Still going strong brother. Yeah. Uh, we were talking about, 298 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:56.080 of course, of course baseball as always, but Darren, you 299 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:59.399 you kind of suggested that song as it reflected UK 300 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:03.240 baseball this year. Everything. It was just not as satisfying 301 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:07.120 last year, obviously, right, But that's kind of unfair to 302 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.080 try to see if it could live up to last 303 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.759 year given. 304 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.919 All the personnel loss doubt. 305 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.720 Still, it just seemed like they were and they still 306 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:18.399 are alive as we speak, but always on the verge. 307 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.720 They didn't quite break through. We thought they did a Tennessee, 308 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:23.600 we thought they did with Oklahoma. 309 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:27.799 Yeah, that's the thing is so many opportunities for this team, 310 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:31.600 so many one run games where they just kind of 311 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.039 came up short. You look at the Vanderbilt series they 312 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:37.480 got swept, could have easily won that series, maybe even 313 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.639 swept it with the way Ben Cleever was pitching on 314 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:43.440 the Saturday before. Just one of those seasons where it 315 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.799 feels like, when you look at the year before, everything 316 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.679 that went right kind of went reverse this year for 317 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.559 this team, and they've dealt with more injuries this year, 318 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:55.960 and I think this is the thing that can't be underscored, 319 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.759 even though I know the program will never use it 320 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.720 as an excuse. The injuries this year were probably the 321 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.159 worst it's been since twenty eighteen, when they lost their 322 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:08.000 entire weekend rotation and their closer and had some close 323 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:10.519 losses like that, got swept at Vanderbilt and got left 324 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:14.320 out of the tournament. But the lineup this year, coach 325 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:17.440 Minchiona's had to do a patchwork lineup at times this year. 326 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.600 They were down to their fourth or fifth third basemen, 327 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:24.080 They've had to retool the bullpen. They finally settled into 328 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.600 a week in rotation that I thought was effective in 329 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:30.879 SEC play. But that lineup is missing its starting center fielder, 330 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.159 it's missing its starting d H slash utility guy and 331 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:38.159 Ethan Hndle, and they've just had some other key injuries. 332 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.879 And on top of that, you're relying on some freshmen 333 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.320 this year to produce in big spots. And so yeah, 334 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.320 it's just one of those seasons where it's like it 335 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:49.840 could have been more. But kind of credit this team 336 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.240 for at least being in the conversation and right now 337 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.000 as we sit here, it looks like they're going to 338 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:55.159 be in the field of sixty four. 339 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.720 Well, and as we said, and coach you and Iris 340 00:16:57.720 --> 00:17:00.919 swapping tex I've seen Kentucky teams with more wins not 341 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:05.039 get in, but the strength to schedule, strength at the 342 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:08.440 SEC that's huge. But as Darren said, I mean, Hinda 343 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.880 was playing so well when he got hurt, and you know, 344 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:14.400 the guy they had lost so much of their pitching 345 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.000 staff from last year, and but one of the guys 346 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:19.519 they were truly counting on out of the pen was Hogan. 347 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:22.880 He was so good down the stretch. Never right this year, 348 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.160 it was never right. 349 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.319 No. 350 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:27.319 I was just thinking about him, and really, I mean 351 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:30.039 he was one of the guys that I had coming 352 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.119 up big in the late ends this year, and that 353 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:36.440 you know that didn't happen. But uh, you know the 354 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:38.279 good thing is they have a field of sixty four 355 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.920 downs to the field of forty eight. 356 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.240 And that that helped him. Oh yeah, what. 357 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:49.079 Did what did the middle endfield show you, mister middle infielder? 358 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:52.000 Because I know you like what you saw. And we 359 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.720 were spoiled the last two years, weren't we by Grant 360 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.920 Smith and a million petre. 361 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:01.680 I think they played all right. Uh. I think there's 362 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:05.319 a way to go, you know, to get to elite level. 363 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:10.519 The talent with Tyler Bell is really good. There's a 364 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:13.440 few things that he could work on. I think that's 365 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:16.000 going to make him, you know, be very good at 366 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:18.359 the next level as well. I mean, he's got the 367 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.799 physical tools right now. Sometimes a little lazy with his 368 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:27.119 arm because he can, well you can, but you don't 369 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.200 want to do that on double play balls and stuff. 370 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:32.079 You no, I mean guess prior to this level, you know, 371 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:35.000 at the high school level, he didn't have to really 372 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.240 worry about turning it loose. 373 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:39.000 Oh no, he Well what I found out he does 374 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.400 have it's in there. Oh yeah, he doesn't. He doesn't 375 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.079 use it. But mine is where I really want to 376 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:48.240 see them excel is anytime they get a chance to 377 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.160 turn a double play, they need to do it. And 378 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.400 there are times where they're a little late, maybe either 379 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:56.119 get into the bag or a little late they catch 380 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.160 the ball a little late getting into your partner so 381 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.400 he can turn it, because both of them turn the 382 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.480 double play when they get the ball in time. Now, 383 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:07.000 Luke Lawrence really impressed me. Yep. He was a lot 384 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:10.079 more than what I thought he was gonna be. And 385 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.000 he came on probably was their best hit at the 386 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:16.720 end of the year and played outstanding defense. So I 387 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.440 was really impressed with him. I'd love to see him 388 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.920 back again together for another year. 389 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.319 Yeah, that could happen. Well, I mean, it looks like 390 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.720 we're going to get to see him for at least 391 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:28.440 one more year. So when you talk about Tyler Bell, 392 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:31.720 some of this stuff is I think we view him 393 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.160 and a lens. Obviously, he's following Grant Smith, who just 394 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.920 did whatever it took to make a winning play, and 395 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.920 that young man came out of nowhere made some tremendous plays. 396 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:43.559 But with Tyler, the ceiling on his potential and his 397 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:46.839 talent is so high. I think sometimes, like you were 398 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.279 just talking about with the here's the things that I 399 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.240 think he can get better at, you view him in 400 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.960 a little more critical lens because it's like, Okay, your 401 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:58.240