Sports
Dialing the Flip Phone with Nick Castellanos
In this episode of OnBase, host Mookie Betts sits down with two-time All-Star Nick Castellanos to discuss life on and off the baseball field. The conversation delves into Castellanos' experiences...
Dialing the Flip Phone with Nick Castellanos
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Interactive Transcript
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Alright, welcome to OnBase presented by All Star Pieces today.
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All Star Pieces.
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I am your host, Mookie Bettson.
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Today we got my boy, a two-time All Star in the 2021 Silver Sucker, Nick Castellanos.
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How you doing, bro?
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What's up, man?
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What's up, everybody?
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Happy to be here.
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Thanks for coming on the show.
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It's really good.
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We haven't had a whole lot of conversations, but I know I want to say it was like two All Star
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games ago.
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We were locker mates very next to each other.
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In 23 in Seattle.
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23 in Seattle.
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Yeah.
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And that was a real first time really getting the kind of like talk outside of baseball.
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Sure, just like the brief moments on the bases.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Or saying that's not really like a whole lot of talking, but that All Star game, that was
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our first time talking to now.
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I really can get to talk to you, get to know you a little bit.
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Fans can get to know you a little better.
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Sure.
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I know you're very blunt in all of your interviews, so if the fans don't know you by
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now, you know.
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Cool.
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I won't be as blunt because I don't want to consider this an interview.
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I just consider this a conversation.
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This is a conversation, so yeah.
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Sometimes with media, I'll have my guard up because I know that they'll ask questions
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because they're just trying to paint their narrative.
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Yeah.
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You know, I'm sort of like, I don't know.
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Especially being in Philly too, I mean, you know, Philly has got to be a tough
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market when it comes to to writers and all this type of things.
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Yeah.
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And so they, you know, you know, the questions I hate are like, what happened when
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you didn't catch the ball?
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It's like, well, I didn't catch the ball.
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There's no other.
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It just didn't happen.
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I missed it.
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I missed it.
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Like that was it.
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You watched what happened.
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Yeah.
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I swung and missed at that pitch.
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That's it.
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It just, I tried to hit it and it didn't work.
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Like they'll be like, what did you see when you hit this double in the ninth, ninth inning
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to go ahead?
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Like, I saw a pitch and I swung and I hit it.
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There was no.
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There was one interview I had after I got a walkoff hit against the Braves, I think last
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year.
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And I mean, the question, the way that this lady asked the question was, it was marvelous
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to say the least.
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Well, I mean, they're just trying to do their job.
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So we try and answer the answer questions respectfully, but no doubt.
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You know, it's also a wonderful thing.
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You can answer a question with one word.
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Okay.
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So explain.
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So a lot of times, if you notice, like media will ask a question in the way so that they
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can go off of what you want to say, but a lot of times they answer the question for
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you.
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In the question.
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So all you have to do is say, like, yes or no.
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And then you, I'm assuming you've tried this.
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Oh, I do it all the time.
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Do it all the time and it works for you?
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I mean, it answered, it gets to point across.
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So they'll say like in the ninth inning, you got a slider down in a way and it looked
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like you just tried to poke it in the right field.
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What were you doing?
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Yes.
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Well, no, because you finished saying like what were you doing?
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Okay.
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Like, just like, hey, that pitch on the outer half of the plate, were you just trying
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to take what you can get there and, you know, serve something the other way?
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Yes.
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Oh, okay.
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So there's no explanation and then you just let them ask another question if they want to.
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Sure.
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But sometimes, like, if they'll, if they leave an open ended question, well, okay, now I
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can have room to articulate.
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Okay.
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Nice word, by the way.
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Oh, thank you.
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Yeah.
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Sounds like you're by Cavalier.
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Vocabulary is very extensive.
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I get that from my mom.
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Okay.
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A lot of times like when my mom was reprimanding me as a kid, she would golly.
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Thank you.
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She would be yelling at me and I'm going to, I'm going to be honest, I really wouldn't
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know what she was saying half the time because there was a lot of syllables in all the words
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she was using.
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Okay.
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And you adopted that and now you just throwing nice words throughout the day.
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Do you have like a word of the day that you try and use?
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Well, the word of the day for me has been pretty much the same for a while and this is
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grateful.
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Okay.
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Okay.
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So grateful.
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Do you try and use that or are you just trying to live by that?
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Well, I try to not use it like in a sentence, but just try to remember to be grateful because
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I think that a lot of times like when life starts going really fast and then as like you
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have like high expectations or you try to figure out the way something should look in your
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mind or whatever and it doesn't quite look like that.
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You can get ungrateful, but then just by practicing gratitude every day, you can kind
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of just, man, this is awesome.
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Like I'm here in LA.
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Yeah, I'm talking to Mookie Beth.
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You know, I got a baseball game tonight.
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I appreciate where you are.
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For sure.
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Okay.
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All right.
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So I like that.
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We'll get some more into some of those things.
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But first, I want to start and play this game called On Base, Off Base.
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It's essentially whether you enter out on these topics.
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The first one is you still use a flip phone.
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Are you in or out on that?
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Out.
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Okay.
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But it says in 2021, you try to simplify your life a little bit.
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I didn't try.
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It was amazing.
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It was amazing.
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2021 was.
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You had a flip phone then?
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Yeah.
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I got rid of it in spring training.
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And then I picked it back up when my second son was born, Otto, only because then like
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Jess wasn't coming on the road with me anymore.
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You know, like I wanted to kind of be there and not be there, but like FaceTime and C.
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Oh, so you couldn't be there.
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I kind of just like, man, and I got back into it.
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But do I miss the days of how simple I feel like 2021 was?
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And ironically, it was the best year baseball I had in my life.
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And I just feel like everything was, there wasn't a lot of noise, which was nice.
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So all because of a flip phone, I mean, like what else did you simplify?
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That was it.
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That was the flip phone.
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Well, I mean, yeah, I had only a few contacts, like my teammates numbers.
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Okay.
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I had an iPod that didn't have like an old school iPod that didn't have internet connection.
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So did it have the screen on it or no, it was just like the shuffle?
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No, it was, I don't remember.
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It was like the iPod touch.
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Oh, okay.
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Yeah, I know.
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You'd like to plug in and download the music on it, but like didn't have internet.
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So it was, it was nice to not be like connected to this invisible like all unlimited internet
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world.
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So when you, when you did that, you felt like when you were younger, like when, when you
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didn't have, not responsibilities, the stuff is the wrong term, but when you didn't have
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like other things going on, like you could really just kind of focus and be in the moment.
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No doubt.
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For sure.
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You know, like now that I have it back on my hip, it's good for information, but I mean,
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it's just really easy to go down rabbit holes when you have a device that's way smarter
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than you'll ever be.
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You know, so like your curiosity can get numbed if you have something that can always feed
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it.
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Right.
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Yeah.
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And that makes sense.
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And so that's when the flip phone.
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So why don't you go back?
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Oh, because you can't, you can't paste that.
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There's a big part of me that that wants to flip phones.
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Don't, I mean, do it.
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I don't even know if they make flip phones.
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Well, I got an old, old school one.
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And my biggest selling point was it was like 1499 a month unlimited text and calls anywhere
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in the world.
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That's Simon.
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Yeah.
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You just can't face that.
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Well, you can't face time.
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You don't have like text messages like I was T9 texting like where you like or like
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with Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing, you know, like you used to do back
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in the day.
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So like if there was a lot of times I would get messages and I would read it and I would
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be like, that's not important to me.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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I'm just going to answer back.
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You know, but also too, like no group chats.
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You can do no like YouTube, no Twitter, no Instagram.
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But there's also something kind of like you said refreshing in that where like now after
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game to say you do good or do bad either way, your feed is literally like.
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You know, I'm saying for sure.
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And it's something to not even seeing none of that.
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Of course, because technically it's gone and it shouldn't affect how you're going about
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it right now.
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Exactly.
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Not saying that like I was perfect in 21, but I was really good at staying in the moment.
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And that I think from the world.
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Be it help.
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Because the world was only what was in front of my face.
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Yeah.
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And they're going to be fair whether whether you do good or do bad.
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Okay.
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So the next thing when you retire, you'll catch a game in the bleachers.
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You'll sit in the bleachers and watch a game.
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Would I?
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Yeah.
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I'm in.
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All of it.
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That gold card.
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I'm going to use that.
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Use the gold card.
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You see Rizzo right there.
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He would do it.
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Yeah.
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No, he missed it.
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So I was actually talking with Jason Hayward.
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I'll shout out J.H.
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Yeah.
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And he said that he had this plan in his mind that he wanted to do this for years.
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So I mean, while he was playing, he envisioned doing something like this sitting out there.
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And like the fact that Anthony was able to do it.
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I mean, just good for him and like, what a career.
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Step like that.
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People don't understand like we don't get opportunities like that to just go sit in the bleachers
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and enjoy a game and really because we're always on the other side, right?
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We're always the ones that are getting the heck old.
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Yeah, I mean, right.
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For now.
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But like that means a lot to us, like to go out.
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And especially for him because he played with those guys, you know, he grew up in, I mean,
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you know, that was his life he won a World Series there.
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So really to get to experience, he probably has never experienced that that side.
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You know, I look forward to the day.
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Hopefully that I'm bored enough after I'm retired with baseball that I can make my way
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over to a Marlins game.
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Oh, that's okay.
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So I grew up going and watching a lot of Marlins games going on.
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So it's going to come full circle.
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Yeah, my dad was good friends with the picture they had back in the day Alex Fernandez.
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So like I was in the stands for both of their World Series runs.
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I got to go to World Series games as kids and I got as a kid.
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So yeah, I'm definitely in on going in.
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Are you going to try and go to all 30 stadiums to watch?
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That necessarily isn't on my bucket list because I've gone all 30 stadiums to play.
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Right.
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You know, and I got three boys now at home.
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So, you know, you know, you know, you know, that's what I'm saying.
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But like to be able to stay local and go to my hometown stadium and watch the team that
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I grew up like rooting for as a fan to go back and do that after like my career is over.
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I'm in on that.
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Okay.
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Alright.
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So whoever, I guess we got a couple, we got a little while for that.
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How many more years you have left?
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I have one more year after this year.
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And then how long do you want to play?
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Until I am not enjoying it anymore.
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Okay.
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Okay.
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So we don't know.
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That can be any time.
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I guess it depends on the boys as well.
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Like once they start moving around and they start playing and just...
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Liam's all in.
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He's already travel baseball.
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And it's all these perfect game national games.
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Is it hard to know that he's going through the same process you're going through?
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But you want to be there for him, obviously.
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I do.
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But you know, Annabelle Sanchez on Miami said this and it helped me shift my perspective
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a little bit because he was retired when he told me this.
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He said, hey, like I know you're not there for all of his games, but just by you being in
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a uniform and giving him the ability to come in the clubhouse and be on the field and watch
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the art of the game happening.
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He's learning so much, right?
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And like you're with him when you're not with him.
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So like just chill out and enjoy the game.
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The reason why that would weigh on me was subconsciously I want to be the same dad that my dad was
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for me.
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My dad was up my ass from the moment I woke up in the morning until I went to sleep at
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night.
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So me not being as present as I would want to be for Liam.
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Sometimes that makes me feel guilty.
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But you also have a different opportunity than your pops.
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Correct.
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You know, like my dad was a doctor teaching me how to hit.
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You know, I've made my living off of playing baseball.
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And as long as Liam wants to, I'll be able to give back my wisdom to him.
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Yeah, for sure.
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For sure.
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So I'm like, like Annabelle said, you're always there with him.
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Okay.
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So what about this, the ball, meaning to foul ball, home or whatever, should always
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be given to the kid, to a kid, all in on that.
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Well, I, whenever I am, I can't believe this.
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But whenever I'm like playing catcher, I go, I always aim for a kid.
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Okay.
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You know, but you always have that ambitious adult sometimes that will come and grab it.
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You know, this, you know, there is, this woman was obviously mad about a lot of other things
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in her life, right?
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So then this one instance happened.
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So now like everything that she has been mad about for years, all came out in this one
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moment where she feel like this man stole her opportunity for happiness.
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Like you said, it's a ball.
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I mean, like, there's so many, but I see that I don't just see a ball.
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I see a very frustrated lady for years that felt like she's probably been getting the
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shit out of the stick.
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And now this thing happened.
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And she's like, I'm not finishing second here.
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I need this for me, you know, and like completely was oblivious to the fact that this man
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was getting it for his son.
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Yep.
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And, yeah.
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And maybe she was giving it, you know, I'm just looking, maybe she was giving it to
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her grandson or her son.
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I don't know.
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We don't know.
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But I would agree like she, she probably had a couple demons in there, but you know,
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it kind of, it is what it is.
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But yes, I do agree the ball should always go to a kid, you know, but there are collectors
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out there.
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There are people that when they go to the game, they want a ball as well.
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So it's kind of a thing from a fans perspective.
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It's kind of a tough situation to be because I want to get a foul ball.
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Shoot, I want to take my foul ball home.
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And if Nick Cassiano hits a foul ball, I want to take it home.
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But, you know, there's a kid over there.
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They probably are going to remember it a lot more.
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And it's going to mean more to them than me.
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So I definitely, I agree with you.
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The ball always goes to the kid and, you know, that, hopefully that woman is doing better
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today.
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Well, I mean, the internet has let her have it.
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So, you know, what's the, what did y'all say it?
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So you guys all saw that, right?
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We saw it after the game.
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And then after Bader's locker was next to mine in Miami.
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So I was there when our media relations came up, explained the situation and then said,
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like, hey, do you mind doing this?
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And right now, you know, he's awesome.
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So he was like, of course, and went over and took care of the kid and his family and
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then some.
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So it kind of got through the locker room and kind of what happened like after the game.
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After the after the after.
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Yeah, okay.
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Yeah, could there in the game?
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You're not going to stay in the game.
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I didn't know what was up.
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And shout out to whoever watched that situation of what happened and you guys did something
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about it.
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Well, I think that was also Miami, like the Miami camera crew.
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They were all over it.
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Oh, okay.
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So I mean, he ended up, you know, and the dad there not doing a whole bunch of arguing
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and all of this type of stuff.
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He's being the bigger person.
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Yeah, he's being the bigger man and liquid, wouldn't end up happening.
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You know, he gave his son a even better opportunity.
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Sure.
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So shout out to the dad there being a good dad and showing the son like,
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you know, even through adversity, you can always still be the bigger man.
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So role model.
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There you go.
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Exactly.
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Okay.
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So last one.
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Uncrustibles are the best in game snack.
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A nothing will settle in over three.
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Go into your fourth AV like a great jelly on crust.
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I'll tell you that.
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It was funny is that usually like, so I don't eat that often.
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But like during the games.
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But boom, just got buzzed up and in.
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And you know, when he's right, Alec is very good at not committing the pitches.
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So he sees that any spin inside the zone, he hammers it.
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But you know, the plan is to get him off that they'll go, they go in and,
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and you know, so like, you know, hands and wrists are so fragile.
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You know, so he's just been buzzed one or two.
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So like he, he got up and into the point where like he fell down.
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So I was in my little hiding spot feeding.
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And then he came and I just was like, hey, you know, like we got that pitch too.
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You know, like you got to say whatever you got to say.
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And of course, now the whole world knows that I enjoy uncrustibles from time to time.
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So do you have those at home?
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I believe so.
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I don't eat them at home now.
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Oh, you only eat them at.
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I only eat like in the dugout like randomly.
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You know, do you eat seeds?
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Are you seeds guy?
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Gum and seeds.
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So like if I'm like, if I'm chewing a piece of gum and I like the way the flow of the game
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is going, I'll keep that piece of gum in until like my, I didn't like the way that was.
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So like get it out.
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Okay.
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Now eat some seeds and then I'll put like some gum back in.
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Okay.
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So it just depends on how you're feeling and how the game's going.
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How the game's going.
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But I usually like to be to have something in my mouth so I don't start biting my nails
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and fingers and stuff.
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See I used to, I used to do gum and I heard that it's not good for your teeth.
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So I stopped doing gum then I went to seeds and that's better for your teeth.
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I don't think, I don't know.
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I never, I never asked.
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I don't, yeah, I don't think it's better.
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I don't know.
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I have no idea.
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Your teeth look great by the way.
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So I'm usually working.
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I'm on TV now.
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So I got my teeth, my teeth were jacked.
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My teeth were like this.
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So I had to, I had to get them all.
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I had to get them fixed.
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Well was you ever hear that song, J Cole Cookus Mile?
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Yeah, but I don't, I rather have a straight one.
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You know, if I can get a straight smile, if I had the ability to get a straight smile.
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There's whitey care if it's straight or crooked.
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She, she, she doesn't.
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There you go.
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Yeah, she, she doesn't and but it was hard for me to look in the mirror and see, see,
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by crooked teeth, you know, from, from me, it was really hard.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah, it was really hard.
spk_0
So that's, that led to me getting, getting my teeth fixed and in the process of getting
spk_0
my teeth fixed.
spk_0
You cut out gum.
spk_0
I cut out gum.
spk_0
Started with seeds and I never forget when I was in Boston, it was in like the second inning.
spk_0
And I'm rediving for a ball and I swallowed about 10 of them.
spk_0
Nice.
spk_0
And I have not chewed seeds since.
spk_0
So I won't play with anything in my mouth because I'm too scared of swallowing seeds
spk_0
and then chewing gum is, is not a option.
spk_0
I agree to do that.
spk_0
Yeah, yeah.
spk_0
So, so now I just, if I'm hungry to have a game, I just be hungry.
spk_0
And I probably should try to, I'm crossable though, it seemed like it works for you.
spk_0
So, probably a thing.
spk_0
It's not always, I mean, I don't think I've eaten an unconsible since then.
spk_0
It's just a rare occasion.
spk_0
Oh, okay.
spk_0
Just whatever you're hungry.
spk_0
Yeah, if I'm just sitting there, it's like, it's, it was, there's a little bit of frustration
spk_0
and hungry.
spk_0
Oh, okay.
spk_0
So, okay.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
spk_0
So, all right.
spk_0
I want to switch gears a little bit.
spk_0
You guys, clinch the postseason for the four straight season.
spk_0
And in February, you answered a question and you said, this team has less pressure as a
spk_0
team.
spk_0
Only because I was listening to everything the media was saying about us after we lost.
spk_0
At the loss?
spk_0
Like, like, in 24, yeah.
spk_0
So what do you mean by that?
spk_0
Well, they were just shredding us to pieces because we lost.
spk_0
Because we lost, right?
spk_0
So that this isn't the team that's going to do it.
spk_0
But we need to burn the house down.
spk_0
We need to get rid of everybody, you know, like, players, coaching staff, everybody.
spk_0
So I'm like, okay, great.
spk_0
So like, this is the opinion of the media that obviously we're not good enough.
spk_0
Well, Dave Dombowski kept everything pretty much status quo.
spk_0
Added a little piece here.
spk_0
Added a little piece there.
spk_0
But nothing major, you know, like everybody was petitioning for us to get one solo and,
spk_0
you know, like, make a gigantic move, which I think our largest move that we made during
spk_0
the off season was acquiring Wasardo, which is a pretty good move.
spk_0
And he's an excellent piece to have.
spk_0
But so that when they came in the question came around and was like, oh, like, do you feel
spk_0
the pressure and this and that?
spk_0
My response was like, no, we don't have no pressure because you guys said that we weren't
spk_0
good enough.
spk_0
Like, this isn't the team to win.
spk_0
So if we don't win, like, you guys just to get, you guys can now go about and just say
spk_0
that you guys are right.
spk_0
Like, your opinion is right, which you should care about because if you're in the media
spk_0
and you're expressing your opinion, you hope that it's, that it's an educational one
spk_0
and it comes out to be true.
spk_0
And if we do win, and that was just a happy accident.
spk_0
And so how do you feel about pressure?
spk_0
Like, what does, what does pressure really mean to you?
spk_0
Well, wanting a certain outcome very badly and not being sure if it's going to happen
spk_0
or not, you know?
spk_0
Obviously in Philadelphia, there is pressure to win, I think in just like in LA, whenever
spk_0
you are in, how many organizations do you think are all in on winning where money is just
spk_0
I'll say probably four or five maybe.
spk_0
So Dodgers.
spk_0
Dodgers.
spk_0
Philly's.
spk_0
Philly's Yankees.
spk_0
Mets.
spk_0
Yep, the Mets.
spk_0
Mets.
spk_0
I mean, that's four.
spk_0
With Giants?
spk_0
Maybe.
spk_0
You can argue, you can argue with it.
spk_0
Like, nobody like just consistently year in and year out just puts money like.
spk_0
But now let's say like those like for those four organizations because the owner is setting
spk_0
the precedent on how important it is to win the pressure is obviously higher.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
To be able to perform and deliver which at the end of the day is something that is extremely
spk_0
hard to do.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
Winning is not easy.
spk_0
No, it's never easy.
spk_0
And I feel like, you know, when I think about pressure, it's like, it's a it's a it's a
spk_0
privilege in a sense that not everybody gets the opportunity to have to play for something
spk_0
all the time.
spk_0
And it's hard to have to play for something all the time.
spk_0
It's easier to go out there and just play, you know, not really care about wins and losses
spk_0
and you care about your numbers and whatnot.
spk_0
But you just kind of play in baseball, right?
spk_0
That that part's easy.
spk_0
It's hard to go out there and like have to win all the time like to put the jersey on
spk_0
and know that your fans are going to the fans are going to be up your ass.
spk_0
Sure.
spk_0
Your teammates, the front office, like everybody is fully invested on winning this game
spk_0
today.
spk_0
Like not a lot of people can very, very few people can say that, you know, so to get that
spk_0
opportunity to play from that perspective, you know, fortunately for me, I've been
spk_0
in two organizations that I don't know any different, you know.
spk_0
And so Boston was more, well, I mean, Boston's spending money again now, right?
spk_0
A little more.
spk_0
A little more, but I wouldn't say the money, the money as much in Boston as it was like
spk_0
the pressure of just playing like in when I was in Boston, it was more like pressure
spk_0
because I was so scared to not play well.
spk_0
Of course, well, you're being young.
spk_0
You're the same thing as that one I was with Detroit.
spk_0
So you're scared to not play well because of the outside perception, right?
spk_0
And then also the chance of getting sent down, just getting sent down.
spk_0
You want to get you want to make your money.
spk_0
Like, there's a lot of things that kind of go into playing.
spk_0
No doubt.
spk_0
Right?
spk_0
And then you add on the pressure of the city, you know, winning and whatnot.
spk_0
Like, that's a, it's a, it's a beautiful thing.
spk_0
Something that you definitely have to embrace.
spk_0
It's a heavy thing.
spk_0
It's heavy.
spk_0
Heavy.
spk_0
It's heavy in the heart because if you don't, I've seen many that come up and maybe don't
spk_0
play well or maybe don't embrace the pressure and it kind of, not crumble, crumbles them,
spk_0
the crumbles them is the wrong word, but it just gets really hard to handle.
spk_0
You know, it gets really hard and then you, you almost kind of fall out of love with
spk_0
the game a little bit because it's like, I wasn't playing the game for all this extra pressure.
spk_0
I was playing it because I love it.
spk_0
You know, and so that's kind of how I, how I view the pressure situation and so, but
spk_0
being in it, man, I mean, I wouldn't change that for the world.
spk_0
I think the best place to play baseball is with some type of pressure component to it.
spk_0
Well, I think the best place to play baseball is just a place where you're in love with.
spk_0
You know what I mean?
spk_0
So like, just being in a place where whatever source of inspiration that is making you go
spk_0
out and allow all of your emotions to come out while you're playing, so you're really
spk_0
engaged in like in the moment is what's going to be the most beneficial.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Because I think also a lot of times people will go to the big markets because they're chasing
spk_0
that big contract and they think that like money is the answer.
spk_0
And then a lot of that's another reason while they'll fall out of love, right?
spk_0
Because they, they were somebody with an environment, right?
spk_0
Where they, there was a feeling of who they were as a baseball player.
spk_0
They achieved so much.
spk_0
And then as the reward, they wanted all of this financial security and then they go somewhere
spk_0
else.
spk_0
And then it's like, now you're starting over from scratch and you don't have that luxury
spk_0
of like finding yourself when you're getting paid millions and millions of dollars.
spk_0
Like the success when you're young is almost like this happy accident that keeps on like
spk_0
happening over and over again.
spk_0
And then now it's, it's like, it becomes like this euphoric feeling as you're building
spk_0
this staircase.
spk_0
Well, now you get this contract.
spk_0
You go to a different environment and now there's, there's no accidental success.
spk_0
Like one so to like his amazing season that he's having like, it's not an accident.
spk_0
You need to do that.
spk_0
You're making 50 million dollars.
spk_0
That's why you're making 50 million dollars.
spk_0
Correct.
spk_0
So I mean, also hats off to him, bro, that he's able to go there and you know, put up those
spk_0
numbers like that.
spk_0
But winning, they need to make the playoffs.
spk_0
You know, there's just, there's just so many components and some of that it's not, not
spk_0
necessarily on him.
spk_0
I know, obviously, you know, he's got to help the team win in more ways than just on like
spk_0
just performance on the field.
spk_0
Maybe there's a leadership component.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
I don't know these things.
spk_0
I'm just talking.
spk_0
But there's a lot of different hats you have to wear when you make a 50 million dollars.
spk_0
You know, or any, any over 20, you know, like that, because you are expected to bring
spk_0
something to the team that isn't just statistical value anymore.
spk_0
spk_0
Exactly.
spk_0
You know, like you almost, like you remember when you were coming up, like what these
spk_0
veterans could do to make you feel a little bit more comfortable in your own skin when
spk_0
those pockets of insecurities were coming up, just to keep you on track, you know?
spk_0
I remember the big poppy, Padroia, those, these are the guys that I probably learned
spk_0
the absolute most from.
spk_0
And it was really about not just playing the game of baseball, but like you said, like
spk_0
how to treat your teammates and how to like go about the day, how to set an example.
spk_0
I mean, it's hard to explain, but it wasn't just getting hits.
spk_0
You know, it was about so much more than getting hits and being a guy like big poppy and
spk_0
those guys that are making the 30 million dollars.
spk_0
Like that's, everybody else is looking to them, no matter what, you know, no matter what.
spk_0
Whether you have a 0 for 4 or a 4 for 4 day, you know, are you the same guy?
spk_0
Exactly.
spk_0
Are you true?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Like, and it's important.
spk_0
It's important to be the same guy and understand that, but it's hard, man.
spk_0
It's hard.
spk_0
It's hard.
spk_0
So, all right.
spk_0
So I want to talk a little bit of it now about, you know, you're, you're platooning in
spk_0
the outfill, which is something kind of new for you now, right?
spk_0
And you played 162 last year.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
spk_0
Shout out to you for playing 162 games because that's a lot, especially being outfielder.
spk_0
But now you have a little platoon situation.
spk_0
How, not necessarily, I don't really mean like, how do you feel about that, but what do you
spk_0
have to do different to prepare?
spk_0
Because playing every day is like, you know, you show up, you get your routine and you
spk_0
kind of stick to your routine.
spk_0
It's really similar every day.
spk_0
But now if you're platooning, that means you may go two or three games in a row, not
spk_0
playing.
spk_0
So your routine has to change.
spk_0
And so like, what, what have you done differently to kind of fit into this platoon role?
spk_0
Right now, I'm just trying to be like as most plas, like as plas it is possible.
spk_0
Another nice word.
spk_0
So I, I don't, the thing is, I don't know what my routine is yet.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So you got to figure it out.
spk_0
And this is your first time really.
spk_0
It's my first time doing it, you know?
spk_0
The second half has kind of been tough dealing with some patellites and the nitis and my left
spk_0
knee that happened when we were playing at Yankees.
spk_0
So I mean, some time like as humbling as this is to say, because I get foma when I don't
spk_0
play, like sitting down on the bench and like watching is hard because I've never done
spk_0
that before.
spk_0
But just pick up the guys, right?
spk_0
spk_0
spk_0
Making sure, because also I don't, I can hit myself silly.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
I don't want to do that.
spk_0
Like, you know, like, because like, I don't want to over complicate.
spk_0
It really, so I'm just, it's tough, right?
spk_0
Like, I really, I really don't, I can't give you a good answer on that because I'm still
spk_0
trying to figure it out.
spk_0
Yesterday was, you know, two days ago was the first time I came off the bench since I replaced
spk_0
you in the 23 All Star game.
spk_0
Oh, wow.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So like came in in the sixth inning and against a lefty tie game to, now I gotta get this
spk_0
guy in.
spk_0
So, you know, I didn't even come from really the cage or anything either.
spk_0
It was just like, hey, like, are you good right now?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
So, but it's, this is like a, it's a learn behavior coming off the bench.
spk_0
It's not something that people have.
spk_0
There's an art to it.
spk_0
There's, there's really an art to coming off the bench.
spk_0
For sure.
spk_0
Only because like, when using, like starting, like you're starting today, you knew that
spk_0
you were starting when you woke up this morning.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
You know what your day is going to be like.
spk_0
I don't, you know, I can, I can get there and I can sit on the bench and I can be there
spk_0
for all nine innings.
spk_0
I can get there something happened in the bottom of the first inning and now I'm playing
spk_0
eight innings.
spk_0
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
And there's something to that, like you said, I mean, baseball players as a whole have
spk_0
this on and off switch, right?
spk_0
No doubt.
spk_0
And if you're not playing every day or you don't know when you're going to play,
spk_0
you can't go about your day with the switch on because like that's a, that's a different,
spk_0
but you can't go about, go about your day with it off either because if you go with it on,
spk_0
you like drive yourself crazy.
spk_0
But if you go with it off, then you're not like locked in.
spk_0
I feel like it's so I feel like there's a balance that you have to, that you know what I'm saying.
spk_0
So it's funny.
spk_0
I feel like where I'm at now is like, it's off, but I feel like I just got to remember
spk_0
who I am and I can turn it on.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Which is hard.
spk_0
It's that's really hard to do, especially in an instant.
spk_0
Like to just say, all right, it's on and then getting the game and then the situation in
spk_0
the game X, Y, Z is like, you don't have time to ease your way into it because I'm assuming,
spk_0
you know, when you come into face of the lefty, there's, there may be this probably some type
spk_0
of runscoring situation unless it's just leading off any, whatever you can kind of ease
spk_0
your way into that.
spk_0
But, you know, it's second and third, two outs and they bring in a lefty to face whoever
spk_0
and Kepler and you come in to hit like, how do you turn it on that fast?
spk_0
Because I don't know that I'd be able to do that.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
At the same time, like, I don't really have a choice, right?
spk_0
Yeah, you don't have a choice.
spk_0
Face balls, a team sport.
spk_0
I got paid this money to help the Phillies win a World Series.
spk_0
So this is what's being asked of me.
spk_0
I have to put everything that I know to the side and do the best I can to answer what to
spk_0
do what's asked of me to do in the moment.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And then, because I'm thinking, man, like, when I have off days, right, very few, I'm
spk_0
not like, my off all completely, completely off.
spk_0
And then I got a pinch hit in the eighth.
spk_0
You know, it's just whatever.
spk_0
I don't know how to turn it on.
spk_0
Like, I don't know how to like mentally lock in in that situation.
spk_0
And I've tried.
spk_0
I've tried.
spk_0
I've done everything, you know, prepare.
spk_0
I do my routine.
spk_0
I hit in the cage.
spk_0
I do my BP routine.
spk_0
I do everything the same.
spk_0
But it's just something about that switch that when I, when I'm playing every day, I can
spk_0
keep on.
spk_0
But when I'm not, it's off.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I'm a lot, I'm a lot like that too.
spk_0
I'm either all the way on or all the way off.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
So learning how to have that, like flicker is new.
spk_0
But what I, what I think is that if Liam ever goes through something like this, at
spk_0
least I can speak from a place of having gone through it.
spk_0
Some experience.
spk_0
You have some experience.
spk_0
Speaking of Liam, I do want to talk a little bit about your boys.
spk_0
You said you got three boys.
spk_0
Three.
spk_0
How old are they?
spk_0
Liam is 12.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Auto is three.
spk_0
Kobe is four months.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So Kobe is a Kobe after Kobe.
spk_0
Are you just after Kobe Bryant, but KOBI instead of KOBE.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
And so Liam, he's in the scene.
spk_0
He's playing ball.
spk_0
What, what do you tell him before he goes to these tournaments and whatnot?
spk_0
Because there's probably some extra pressure on him just from his outside peers.
spk_0
Just from being my son.
spk_0
From being your son.
spk_0
And so how do you, how do you help him with that?
spk_0
Well, first and foremost is I need to make sure that he's playing because he wants to.
spk_0
And not because he feels like he has to.
spk_0
Right?
spk_0
Because I know the road that's ahead of him.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
But it's not easy.
spk_0
And it's not necessarily enjoyable either.
spk_0
You know, there's a lot of rewards that can come from it.
spk_0
But having to give up all your summers from high school to go to these showcases to, you
spk_0
know, hopefully you can get drafted or end up going to a college.
spk_0
But end up, you get to just professional ball.
spk_0
You go to the minor leagues.
spk_0
12 hour bus rides, all these games, the amenities aren't great.
spk_0
You know, now everybody throws a hundred.
spk_0
You know, so like it's, it's a tough life.
spk_0
So it's just making sure that he wants to do it.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Now that you want to do it, now if the only thing that I'm going to demand is your effort,
spk_0
your enthusiasm.
spk_0
Because I know when Liam is enthused and I know when he's, I don't want to say dead inside.
spk_0
But I know when you're not there.
spk_0
He was there.
spk_0
I mean, you're a son.
spk_0
I mean, I'm sorry.
spk_0
He's your son.
spk_0
So you know everything about him.
spk_0
spk_0
There's a lot of me and him.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
You know, like just in even two, the way like his mind works and everything, that was his
spk_0
first one.
spk_0
He's hit a bunch now.
spk_0
Well, I mean, he's your son.
spk_0
He's doing, he's doing a bunch.
spk_0
Like for the tournaments, I tell him, so I want him to learn how to play aggressive.
spk_0
So I'm like, hey, like lead the tournament and extra bass hits.
spk_0
Lead the tournament and stolen basses make a diving play.
spk_0
You know, so like that way, those are extremely athletic things that you have to be engaged
spk_0
to do.
spk_0
Right?
spk_0
So like, be ready.
spk_0
Hit the share ball.
spk_0
Uh-huh.
spk_0
If you're on first or you're on second, like make something happen.
spk_0
And then if you're in the outfield, do something crazy because he plays center field.
spk_0
So and then let's say after, you know, because you're playing two and three games a day,
spk_0
especially his age.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, on Sundays, huh?
spk_0
On Sundays.
spk_0
On Sundays, especially.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Does he call you like on Saturday after he played or whatever?
spk_0
Does he call you and let you know how the game went or are you watching it on?
spk_0
Do you watch it as much as possible?
spk_0
Like I thought that plan, yeah.
spk_0
Like this past tournament, uh, although two tournaments ago, uh, like Jess and I were,
spk_0
like walking the kids and walking the dogs in the morning and we're like watching the
spk_0
stuff on game changer.
spk_0
spk_0
Uh, he went off that tournament.
spk_0
He ended up going, I think seven for seven with some walks, one MVP.
spk_0
spk_0
So how does it, how does that make you feel as a dad?
spk_0
Like, you know, I'm saying, like, are you proud?
spk_0
Are you just like, I mean, whatever?
spk_0
How does that make you feel?
spk_0
Both obviously very proud, you know, but not proud is in like, uh-huh, uh-huh.
spk_0
You know, like laugh, laugh, happy.
spk_0
More, you know, the more the talent presents itself, the more responsibility.
spk_0
Can be there to make sure that if you want to exercise and get the most out of it,
spk_0
you know, like it's almost like starting to lay the pieces on, okay, like, if this,
spk_0
if this can happen, how are we going to make it happen?
spk_0
That's hard.
spk_0
That's, you got to see it.
spk_0
You got to see it.
spk_0
And by being that you are his dad and you see professional side, well, just as far as,
spk_0
I don't know if he's going to be a major league baseball player.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
But the it, you know what I mean?
spk_0
Like, you would want to, you, the it, I see the it, you know, it's he going to be tough enough.
spk_0
Is he going to be able to get hit with a hundred mile in our fastball and dig back in the box?
spk_0
Is he going to be able to have to deal with some coaches that don't see the it and are trying to,
spk_0
you know, push them down?
spk_0
Is does, is he have those things to get over those obstacles that can come in the way?
spk_0
I don't know yet, you know, I can only be the best sounding board for if that happens.
spk_0
It's going to end up being his choice on what he wants to sacrifice to be able to make this happen.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
And so I mean, he's got you and obviously you use big words.
spk_0
So you'll be sometimes more fancy words doesn't necessarily mean right or wrong.
spk_0
You know, like you ever listen to a lawyer talk, they can, they can make it, they can make sound, you know,
spk_0
finessing you to do something you don't want to do sound real enticing.
spk_0
But you know, you know what it is, you know what he needs.
spk_0
So he'll be fine as long as he, uh, just like you said, if he, if he loves it, you know, he didn't,
spk_0
he didn't, as long as he's not doing it for you, you know, that, that's what makes it.
spk_0
Correct.
spk_0
I want to make sure that he's just, he's doing it because he wants to.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
spk_0
So I want to get a little bit about you, um, from South Florida, right?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And you grew up playing ball, obviously, what other sports did you play?
spk_0
I played a half a season of soccer.
spk_0
That's it.
spk_0
And that's it.
spk_0
A half a, so what made you want to play soccer?
spk_0
Oh, it was five years old, six years old, all my other friends on like my baseball team and like,
spk_0
you know, the parents were all friends too.
spk_0
We're like, we're going to, we're going to play soccer this year.
spk_0
So signed up for that and they stuck me like on defense.
spk_0
So all I did was get kicked in the shins.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Like that.
spk_0
I'm over it.
spk_0
And so when to go play baseball at PSN, which was a different signed up late, did you,
spk_0
you didn't play basketball or anything?
spk_0
So you just played baseball your whole life.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Me being a major league baseball player was my dad's dream.
spk_0
So what was your dream?
spk_0
I'm making my dad happy.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Uh, he came, they came over from Cuba with the whole casual thing.
spk_0
Uh, everybody in my family on my dad's side are doctors.
spk_0
So he was pretty good to the point where like he could get like a division two scholarship,
spk_0
you know, baseball in baseball.
spk_0
University of Miami was like, hey, go here.
spk_0
You do well.
spk_0
You can, uh, whatever it is with a some sort of thing with, uh,
spk_0
uh, what is it called?
spk_0
Scholarships or I don't know how that works.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
spk_0
But, uh, and then my grandfather shut that down pretty quick.
spk_0
Like, yo, we didn't come over to the land of opportunity for you to play a game.
spk_0
Like you need to go be a doctor.
spk_0
So, um, it's what my dad went to go do.
spk_0
So he ended up, so a lot of your family is doctors on my dad's side on your dad's side of the family.
spk_0
And did your mom play sports?
spk_0
Yeah, my mom played softball.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
I saw she was athletic.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So she, she loved, she's locked in.
spk_0
I see your dad as well.
spk_0
But no, my dad is locked in baseball for me.
spk_0
Wasn't a choice.
spk_0
If I as a kid, if I was grown up and I was sick, I would stay home from school to be able to
spk_0
feel good enough to go play in this game that I had.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And he always had me like on two teams.
spk_0
So I would play my age group in the tournaments on the weekends.
spk_0
And then I would play on another team that was like a year older than me.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So like I'd get my.
spk_0
She kicked in during the week.
spk_0
And then I would go be the man on the weekend.
spk_0
And so how do you, how do you think that your dad.
spk_0
Not forcing, because forcing is the wrong term, but like really being hard on you about baseball.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
How do you think that shaped you into the player you are today?
spk_0
Well, I'm stubborn.
spk_0
I'll tell you that, you know, I'm, I'm never, it's really hard for me to like not
spk_0
play to not want this at bat, to not, I'm, I'll, it's like, and I get this left from my dad too.
spk_0
It's kind of like a weevil wobble like I'm going to get knocked.
spk_0
But I'm going to come back up.
spk_0
And I'm going to, damn, I got knocked 20 times in a row.
spk_0
Well, I'm going to come back up, you know, and it's just, I don't know if it's just the nature of,
spk_0
you know, being my dad's kid or Cuban man in general, you know, just kind of being proud about that.
spk_0
But I think that a lot of kids would have not been able to take
spk_0
as serious as it was, but it was just that good combination where I could, I could take it.
spk_0
You know, like the more, like I had the spark so the gasoline didn't put out the fire.
spk_0
Okay. It just, you know, because sometimes the parents are too much.
spk_0
The kid will just, I'm not doing this.
spk_0
We're also too, like I was good.
spk_0
So being able to know and look around like, man, like I'm the best one on this field.
spk_0
And then also too, like, man, my dad's super proud of me.
spk_0
Like that's, those are too good.
spk_0
Those are too good feelings.
spk_0
How did you, I guess, I want to know this because my dad was never hard on me.
spk_0
He'd let me do whatever I wanted to do as far as sports.
spk_0
And like he would always tell me if I didn't play well, he always tell me like, man,
spk_0
the pros don't always get four hits in the game or three hits in the game or whatever.
spk_0
And, you know, my dad is kind of, well, kind of the opposite, right?
spk_0
If I didn't play well, like he was still taking me to go get ice cream or whatever.
spk_0
And it was never hard on me in any way, form or fashion.
spk_0
And so I think I love the game because I genuinely love the game.
spk_0
Sure. And I love playing.
spk_0
And I hear like what I hear you saying is like kind of the opposite, right?
spk_0
You were not forced into the game, but like your dad made you play.
spk_0
And how did you, how did you not grow out of love or like, how did that,
spk_0
that like the fire you just said?
spk_0
How did it stay lit?
spk_0
You know, because if you're doing something that's not necessarily for you.
spk_0
Well, I can't say that it wasn't for me, you know, because I did,
spk_0
I enjoyed succeeding, right?
spk_0
Like I enjoyed once that I was like, man, like kids from other neighborhoods and other leagues,
spk_0
like no who I am.
spk_0
You know, like once like the, you start realizing like, man, like I'm good and other people know I'm good.
spk_0
And then, man, like I'm good and I'm in ninth grade.
spk_0
You know, I went to high school with Devin Marrero and Eric Cosmer and them.
spk_0
So like, man, I'm getting noticed from major league scouts, luckily because they came to see them.
spk_0
But like, wow, like yeah, they're, they think I have a chance to, you know, so like that part,
spk_0
yes, like my dad's, I don't necessarily have a choice, but I'm also enjoying it, you know,
spk_0
so I can't say that it was just like a job from the beginning.
spk_0
But I think more than anything, like I just, I also love that euphoric feeling of performing.
spk_0
Okay. Yeah.
spk_0
You know, like there's nothing better when you come up in a big spot and you succeed or you make a
spk_0
play or you get a hit and then everybody is cheering for you. It's like a, it's, it's like a high.
spk_0
Yeah. I mean, for me sometimes it's almost about that, uh, what drives me in those situations is
spk_0
like the insecurity of failing. Like what are the, the perception and not necessarily that I care
spk_0
about it, but I don't want to give other people the opportunity to say something negative.
spk_0
That's right. That's the matter.
spk_0
What drives me is it drives me in those situations like, okay, I don't want to give none of y'all.
spk_0
I don't want to give any of you the ammunition to write in an article that I didn't.
spk_0
But here's the thing. Here's the thing, my dude. And Jason has helped me a lot with this.
spk_0
The only opinions that I honestly care about are the ones that I've carried the stick.
spk_0
The ones that I've put on the gloves and put on the cleats. You know, like,
spk_0
that makes for, I'm just saying what drives me. Like I, obviously they're going to write it,
spk_0
they're going to do this then and you're right. Like they haven't played. So there's no way that you
spk_0
can really say what we should or shouldn't do where the guys that have played understand. Like you're,
spk_0
you're going to fail. And that doesn't mean that I haven't had people that have played jump my
spk_0
shit. But a lot of times it's not for failing. It's because they can see behind the curtain
spk_0
of the things that can be tweaked or can you adjust it? Whatever it is.
spk_0
Whatever's going through, right? And like those are the opinions to me, right? That I care most
spk_0
about. And, and also just to be able to have the respect of the players, right? That have been
spk_0
able to suit up. That can be like, damn, like this kid's done it the right way. Yep. And then I know
spk_0
as you, when you got drafted by the Tigers. Yep. And then you start up playing short.
spk_0
Well, I was in amateur shortstop. Amateur shortstop. Okay. That's my favorite position. I think I
spk_0
told you that on the basis. In fact, that you're a, you're playing shortstop now. Yeah. I know.
spk_0
You know, you just did that as a, you did that as a kid. Because I think I was like, man, that'd be
spk_0
like if a team asked me to do that. Like I'd be in heaven only because like playing shortstop,
spk_0
I loved as much as hitting. Okay. And then so like baseball was just one. It just, it was the flow
spk_0
never stopped. You know, also to my ADD kicks. As soon as they took out a short stop, like my ADD
spk_0
really started coming back. Because then I was like, oh, like, hey, they lied to me and say,
spk_0
you can play short. Third base is going to be easy. That's a lie. That is a lie. Because third base,
spk_0
I felt like I was a hockey goalie. That was just over there just waiting for this missile to be hit
spk_0
at me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, so then, so I was in amateur shortstop. And then I played
spk_0
third base in the minor leagues through A ball with Detroit. My batch started progressing really fast.
spk_0
So they, they moved me to right field for the last like 30 games of AA. Then in the Arizona
spk_0
Fall League, they moved me to left field. Right. And AAA, I played left field in 2013. I made my
spk_0
debut as a left fielder. And then we traded Prince fielder to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler.
spk_0
And then I got to call the day before Thanksgiving from the Browsekins and said, hey,
spk_0
you're going to go back to third base in the big leagues. That's why I remember you. So then, you know,
spk_0
like, then my whole, that I did the best I could, but honestly, like, I was anxious over there.
spk_0
Like the game was so fast. And really, I only had A ball experience at that position. So now,
spk_0
when Omar Viscale is giving me the infield in sign, because there's a guy on third,
spk_0
less than two outs in John Carlyl stands hitting, I really want to give him the middle finger and
spk_0
say, bro, you come play out here. No shot. You know, like Mike Trauts up, hey, never know.
spk_0
Never know. Listen, I know he's not going to, but I'm going to play back. That's funny. Okay.
spk_0
Yeah. So, okay. And so then you end up in an outfit or whatnot. So that, I mean, that makes sense
spk_0
because the infield man, like, you know, last year, I came in and like the game is so fast. And it,
spk_0
it just, it's hard, man. It's, it's hard. It takes a lot. And once you go to the outfit, like,
spk_0
if you stay in the infield, the game clock and everything, you'll be okay. But once you go to the
spk_0
outfield and you learn that game clock, yeah, it's, it's hard. Like the, and especially people that
spk_0
go back and forth, like, I don't even, I don't even know how you do that, you know, like going back
spk_0
and forth. Yeah. That's nice. That's to be good at both with KK Hernandez. Yeah, like KK.
spk_0
Amazing. But, and, and it's, it's seamless. He could play a man, a four in between innings.
spk_0
Hey, but his on switch is a different on switch. His own switch is a different. But his, but his
spk_0
never really turns off. Oh, I don't know. I don't know him. Uh, knowing him and seeing him, I don't
spk_0
mean, I didn't even realize I've been playing with KK for like five. This like my fifth or six
spk_0
year playing with him. Yeah. And he's just never as off. And I think that's the beauty of why,
spk_0
especially in the post, he's a white. He's so good because he never turns off. And he'll be on
spk_0
for nine innings sitting on the bench. And I think it is fascinating for someone to, to, to do that.
spk_0
And he has really learned and embraced that role of coming off the bench or, you know, playing
spk_0
every third, third or fourth day or whatever. I also think to be able to be really good at that,
spk_0
you have to be able to get lost and, and loving the concept of team. Yeah. Yeah, you have to,
spk_0
you know, because it's not about you. Because at all. But some of the best performers get lost in
spk_0
the art of their own performance. And then in turn, because they're so talented, they help and can
spk_0
carry the team. Exactly. Exactly. Right. So to, to go and to learn how to do both, then you can kind
spk_0
of sit back and look at the team from a completely different lens. You know, so, you know, I can,
spk_0
from being on the outside, I've never been around KK, but I can tell that he's just, he's an asset
spk_0
to winning a baseball game, whether he's playing or not. Right. Yeah. Exactly. And that's just, and I've
spk_0
never spent a moment with that guy in the locker room. That's just from me watching you. Exactly.
spk_0
And you said, loss in the, in the art of their own performance. I want to segue into the artist,
spk_0
which is you sure. Where did that come from? Well, I started making some creations as a kid growing
spk_0
up. What's my man's name with the fro Bob Ross? Bob Ross. Yeah. You, you and Bob, you're all cousins or
spk_0
something. Hey, I wish. Have you ever watched one of his shows from beginning to end?
spk_0
Not from beginning to end, but I've watched. I challenge you to do that. Watch it from beginning
spk_0
to end. I promise you that I promise you on the inside, you will feel different from when you
spk_0
started. So when it's over, I promise you do it since you're an artist. You show them a watch
spk_0
Bob Ross? No, not watch B Bob Ross. You mean like make a show and paint and do all that? You're an
spk_0
artist. That's not the, I don't, well, first off, I'd like to say we're all artists. Yeah. Right.
spk_0
That's right. You're just in doing what you're doing. Look at all the things that you're creating.
spk_0
You're creating a baseball career. You're creating a family. You're creating a podcast. You're
spk_0
creating an idea that is Mukibet. Look at all the artists that we have right now that are making
spk_0
this creation come to life. So first off, let's understand the context of how I use the word artist.
spk_0
And what it, how that ended up starting was in 2018. This is where I got to give credit to my wife.
spk_0
Was we had an off day and you know, like I was, the game was getting a little bit fast. Where
spk_0
she's like, Hey, you're not talking anybody. You're painting all day. Great. So I, and I
spk_0
got lost 14 hours went by like that just creating. And like after at the end of it, I'm like,
spk_0
I go, well, I went to go sign my name and a lot of the things that I was making, I really couldn't
spk_0
give that much credit to myself because I felt like I was inspired by everything around me. So I'm
spk_0
like, I'm going to put this on pause real quick. So I just signed it artist. Right. But that's not as
spk_0
like I'm not giving myself credit to that. It was just like a holding, it was just like a,
spk_0
it was like an LLC. Like I'm going to hold, like I'm holding this for now, you know. So then it kind
spk_0
of just came whenever I would get an idea and I would make something that I just wanted to convey
spk_0
a message because I feel like a lot of times my avenue of creating is like, I have this thought,
spk_0
but I want to convey a message to somebody and I can say this through art. So like I'll do that.
spk_0
And then I'll just put that stamp there because I think it's going to be interesting to see what comes
spk_0
out about that when I can take this thing that is baseball that has been in my brain since I was a
spk_0
kid and put it down. I do. I have a quote from Picasso that I want to, I want to hear you dissect. Sure.
spk_0
Learn the rules like a pro. Sure. To break them like an artist. No doubt. How do you feel about
spk_0
like what does that mean to you? Well, first off, how beautiful that is, right? So if when a lot of
spk_0
times when I hear like there's a lot of rules, rules apply to structure. Right. Art is the
spk_0
absence of structure, its creativity and its purest form. So when somebody can go in and learn the
spk_0
rules of an entity like a company or a school or like this podcast, there are some rules. I better
spk_0
not just go off the cuff and start saying crazy stuff because it's going to get edited out.
spk_0
For sure. You know, but if somebody can immerse themselves so deeply into corporation, I don't
spk_0
even know the right vocabulary word to articulate what I'm trying to say. To learn it where you can
spk_0
understand it. Now, and then you can be intelligent enough to break them with your creativity.
spk_0
It's like breaking them with staying within them if that makes sense. No doubt. A little bit because
spk_0
not like the not like you don't come in with a wrecking ball. Right. And just completely wreck shop.
spk_0
You're able to come in, you learn it, you respect it, you take part in it. And now you can see where
spk_0
you can adjust it. Or you can make it better and not necessarily better put your own twist on it.
spk_0
Whatever it is, that makes yeah. That's what I that's what I hear is like you got to learn
spk_0
where the where the guard rails are to see where you can play and then make it all make it your own
spk_0
essentially. Purest art can't be controlled. Right. It's art. You know what I mean? So
spk_0
there's no right or wrong. There's no right or wrong. It's somebody can look at one thing and see
spk_0
nothing but beauty and good. And somebody else can see that same thing and just have the darkest and
spk_0
most evil feelings attached to it. And that's I guess that's part of you and hardest and
spk_0
embracing your creations and whatever it is. Right. And this sort of be painting but
spk_0
whatever like for me my art is when I think about it playing baseball like I'm not the biggest guy.
spk_0
I'm not the fastest guy. I'm not the strongest guy. Most athletic guy. But like that's part of my
spk_0
art right. And my art is being able to be an athlete and to be able to do everything
spk_0
in and some type of in my own way right. Like I may I can hit 30 homeers the same way you can
spk_0
hit 30 homeers. But mine are going to go three rows deep where yours go 30 rows deep. But
spk_0
they're all count to say all count the same for sure. My way of going about it is different. So
spk_0
it's really I think it's really important. You know talking now it's like to to understand
spk_0
what your art looks like and then embrace it like state embrace your own art because not
spk_0
everybody is going to look the same and not everybody's going to see your own your art the way you
spk_0
see your own out. And then the biggest way to kill artistic creativity is through comparison.
spk_0
So you know you look you get caught up in what Major League Baseball is marketing and who's the
spk_0
most popular and who's this who's that and then you're like well I wanna you know like maybe I
spk_0
maybe I do it like that. Maybe I could do it like this you know and you can really lose
spk_0
uh yourself. Yeah it's like draw your own picture real. As best you can. As best you're getting
spk_0
rid of the phone helped me for that year really draw my own picture. That makes sense. Yep that
spk_0
makes sense. Okay so before I let you go man um this is something that uh I haven't heard before
spk_0
so I really want to hear why and Scooby Doo is your your favorite superhero. Well answer to
spk_0
your question you know uh but why what what what is it about Scooby Doo? Maybe because I think
spk_0
everybody like Scooby Doo right. I love Scooby Doo growing up but you said he's a superhero. Sure
spk_0
so can you learn me why he's a superhero. I can definitely learn you why he's a superhero.
spk_0
Um well usually a superhero has a superpower. Okay right Scooby Doo is a dog and he can talk. Okay
spk_0
that's one right. Yes. Scooby Doo also well superheroes usually uh use their super power to
spk_0
help people right. Well Scooby Doo is a dog that can talk and solves mysteries and helps people
spk_0
that are in a sticky situation because somebody behind a mask is causing some sort of problem and is
spk_0
you know doing criminal stuff and here comes this talking dog and his group of friends and they
spk_0
solve the mystery. And so do you still watch Scooby Doo? It's on my TV now and again I have kids
spk_0
so like I'd rather whenever it's up to me obviously when the grandmas are in the house I don't know
spk_0
my parenting advice goes out the window because you know they know more than me but whenever I get
spk_0
to choose a TV show for my kids to watch I'll always go to the older cartoons because I feel they're
spk_0
slower and the colors and everything are not as like bang bang bang in your face changing this
spk_0
that you know so I'll put on like 90 Scooby Doo or uh a curious George or that stuff like the
spk_0
Rugrats you know hey Arnold just because I feel like the colors and stuff are softer but also like
spk_0
the plot plays out slower so there's a little bit more patience involved in watching that show
spk_0
than uh all of the new cartoons and stuff that are on now. So
spk_0
last question who who would be your top five superheroes then I mean Scooby Doo has to be in there.
spk_0
So Scooby Doo is obviously in there because if I didn't now there'd be a gigantic uproar
spk_0
call me a phony because the Scooby Doo. So Scooby Doo is top five superhero uh who else
spk_0
top five superheroes Superman, Batman, Spider-Man. I like Batman a lot. Batman, Bruce Wayne. Okay.
spk_0
I like Batman. Um I don't even know like because they all they all kind of do the same thing so there's
spk_0
not like a one that stands out the most for me. Well I'm you know everybody can you know just
spk_0
all the Avengers or those for that you know uh you know what superhero I like that brings a
spk_0
smile to my face is the raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy. Oh nice okay okay okay yeah he makes me
spk_0
smile. Um you don't have to go through five because I mean uh that would be you know you don't want
spk_0
to go through regular ones. You probably don't remember is you remember quail man?
spk_0
Quail man. Uh you ever remember the cartoon Doug Funny? I'm a little bit older than you. Yeah a little
spk_0
bit uh Doug Funny uh I just remember there wasn't a cartoon named Doug. Doug yeah Doug. That's the same
spk_0
Doug. That's the funny. Yeah. Oh I don't know. Okay. Okay okay okay so Doug had uh like his like his
spk_0
in his notebook and stuff like where he was confident and he was able to conquer all the things
spk_0
uh that were giving him trouble in high school and or I don't even know what's if he was in high
spk_0
school or not but what's quail man. Okay okay so that's so you don't like not necessarily you don't
spk_0
like but you like superheroes that have some some artistry to them not just the simple the normal
spk_0
stuff not just the normal ghost save the city you want some some uh some context some personality
spk_0
when it goes to well I just think that those kinds of superheroes are a little bit more meaningful
spk_0
because they can really resonate with the common person in everyday life. It's kind of hard like
spk_0
the Hulk is my favorite superhero because when I get angry you know or you know Iron Man
spk_0
where I'm gonna like Iron Man is awesome Robert Downey Jr. Awesome uh but we can't
spk_0
wait to fall. But it's so far you know from uh it's so far from what can actually like happen
spk_0
so a lot of so would relate ability first I feel like is more powerful than just above and beyond
spk_0
imagination like Superman like damn it is awesome to be able to fly out into orbit and go that and
spk_0
then go fast and make a tornado come down and shoot laser beams and knock down a whole building you
spk_0
know but uh it's not real it's not real a Bruce Wayne real real yeah real yeah really yeah
spk_0
real is depends which ones you want like the new Batman with Robert Pattinson great Batman okay
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I haven't seen it but I need to uh I need to watch out I'm sure but first I want to watch Scooby-Doo
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I need to get back on my Scooby-Doo uh oh yeah Scooby-Doo it'll decompress you that's for sure yeah
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I'm gonna get back on it oh my uh I'm off the phone I'm gonna see you motor roller somebody can send me
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a new razor or something and we can go from there hey you're gonna be saving a lot of money that's
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for sure in California sign me up so all right man I know we gotta go to work we're at brothers so
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thanks for coming on it's really good I got to finally talk to you at I um you know you hear a lot
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about who you are and and like but I never really got into talking everybody says Nick he's
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awesome x1 z boom boom boom and like I said I'm that time and see out of those couple hours
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for a couple days we spent I really got to know you a little more and I was intrigued and so
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now getting to talk to you more man it's uh I appreciate you and your outlook on things and like
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I appreciate they type of dad you are because you really just helped me especially with my son
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I know he's only two now but as he gets older and you know how to go about it because it's
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it was gonna hurt me to not be there for him especially how are you gonna be when he's
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contracts up I got he'll he'll be about eight or nine so he'll I'll have a little time right but
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I just know how important those years work as my dad was with me starting when I was seven you know
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six and seven when as soon as I got on the scene and so I know how important having your dad there
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and you know you're you're biggest fan you're supporter there especially someone like us right
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great you gray area gray the gray area moments are the best moments like the car rides you know or
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the you know like just the little moments of like they just finished eating breakfast or whatever
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because as a kid sometimes it's hard to communicate you know the more like you just kind of hang
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around or whatever then you'll find those pockets at least with my son where all of a sudden he's
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oh he's telling me how he's feeling you know like oh he's he's like it's coming out because you know
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you'll see even you pop in for this tell me about your day what's going on what's new with you
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how school good what's new nothing yeah exactly my daughter does that now you know
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yeah I don't know what it's like having a daughter that's gonna be another world and that is
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another world I mean you got three boys I'm sure you'll keep trying to
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to we'll see but anyways brother like I said man thanks for coming on the show
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uh and uh good luck with everything brother you know hearing uh like I said hearing your
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perspective on everything you really made me a fan of you like just and not just baseball but just
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for for you in life thank you I hope I hope nothing I wish nothing but success for you
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before I let you go get 15% of your order with all star pieces all star pieces.com I own this
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I'm part owner of this company so I'm gonna make sure I get Liam and the boys I'll bring it to
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the stadium uh give them all star piece no doubt if uh how many of you how many of those do you have
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if I you can give them to his baseball team they'd freak out I got a bunch of my home so I'll make sure I
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I'll bring them to the stadium love that and uh make sure I give them to you so you can give them out
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15% off if you uh and the code is on base so on base go all star pieces.com and make sure you
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guys support your boy I think it's a it's a pretty neat thing so uh anyways thanks Nick for coming
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on and we'll catch you guys next time thank you bro
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oh