Brent Rooker on Swing-off ideas, Trade rumors, A’s season in Sacto

00:00:03
Speaker 1: As All Star. Brent Ruokery is here Brook, Great to see you. How was the All Star experience? First of all, man, it was fun to watch it.

00:00:11
Speaker 2: It was a lot of fun. You know. You say that kind of obviously. The All Star Game is a fun time. It's a great experience. It's a very very busy two days, pretty NonStop for the forty eight hours that you're there or whatever it is. But you know, it being my second time, I knew a little bit what to expect a little bit, you know, going into it, kind of had a feel for the schedule and what things looked like. But it was a blast. Man. I had a great time.

00:00:34
Speaker 3: So I want to jump right into us, you know, from my home run derby contestant to another. Oh anyway, experience was awesome. I'm sure it was. You had an opportunity to move on there. We talked about this, I was broadcasting it. We were confused, just like you were about you know, the whatever inch it was left of where the ball landed. Talk to me a little about that. I know you were frustrated. Looking back on it, I know you're probably calmed down, you're kind of over it, but at the time, talk to me a little about what your thoughts were and what they said to you, Like, how did this just go on, you know, without even you know, a big explanation.

00:01:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean in reality, like my only frustration was it was like it wasn't no one told me before I had been eliminated after Cal was done, obviously, but no one told me that. So I was like down the tunnel getting ready, thinking I had a swing off coming, when in reality it had already been knocked out and I just didn't know that. Like Cal was the one who actually told me that that the distance ended up being what it was, And like I knew the rule going into We all knew the rule going into it, that it's it's the furthest time running round one was the tie rakers, So I had no issue with the rule being implemented. And my only frustration at the time was just like I wish someone would have told me that I was already out of it, so I could have stopped hitting in the cage and stop warming up again trying to get ready for for a swing off that I thought was coming.

00:01:50
Speaker 4: You got you got other stuff to go, do I get that. I get that was excuse was there.

00:01:56
Speaker 3: Like a league official there like or it was just Cal told you and you said, okay, Cow's word is what it is.

00:02:03
Speaker 2: Like I came up out of the tunnel like walk back up on the field kind of getting ready at the end of Olies round there and Cal comes out there and say, hey, did like did they tell you? Did you hear? And I was like, did I hear? What? I don't don't know what you're talking about. It was like I got you by likeo point zero eight inches or whatever it was, So that's the tie breaker. And I was like, oh, okay that. I mean, I can't I can't argue with it, like if that's what it is, and that's what it is. But yeah, I mean Cow is very gracious and he was the one to deliver the news to me, and I did appreciate it coming from him.

00:02:31
Speaker 4: A lot cooler story if Cal was just like he came up to you and was like, hey, bro, you're out, and you like kind of like he just made it up, just made it up, like like in the second basements, like, yeah, that would have been good. You think about that.

00:02:51
Speaker 2: I hope so, I hope so I would after doing it once, I would definitely do it again. I had a great time. It's it's a lot of fun.

00:02:56
Speaker 3: What what would you What would you change here? Because you got you got into a little you started off a little slower and then you got into a little bit of a groove there. Would you change your swing at all or would you would you what would you do differently?

00:03:08
Speaker 2: Was there anything? No? I did the opposite that I hit like by nine of my first ten were homes and then I.

00:03:14
Speaker 3: Slowed down after excuse me, that's what I thought.

00:03:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, no, I came out I think I came out too hot. Yeah, I came out too hot. I think I think. I think the adrenaline and just like the okay, let's make sure we hit one homer here is we don't get shut out had me swinging a little bit too hard early on, just to try to make sure we got the first one. So I think I try to pace myself a little bit better, maybe slow the first ten swings down or so, because I was pretty gas at the end of it, as as everybody is. It's a pretty exhausting exercise there. But I think if I had to change anything, I would take it a little slower for the first like ten swings or thirty seconds and stop trying to Like again, it was like the first pitch, I was like, all right, swing as hard as you possibly can, so we make sure we hit one and we don't get shut out for these three minutes. So I think I was knowing that what I know now. I think I changed that strategy a little bit.

00:04:02
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think you hit like six or seven of the first Yeah, right in.

00:04:05
Speaker 2: The row, and then I ran a gas.

00:04:07
Speaker 4: Yeah, so you need to get a little bit more stamina. I get it, I get it.

00:04:11
Speaker 2: It's fine, Yeah, just start slower.

00:04:14
Speaker 4: You've mentioned now you ran out gasing home run derby. It's a it's a packed two days. What could Major League Baseball do for the players so that it's a little bit maybe a little more spread out, it's not such a it's not such a jam packed time or like maybe and maybe that would make other guys come to the All Star Game.

00:04:36
Speaker 2: Yeah. I think we talked about this a lot while we're there, and I don't know how it would impact scheduling and whether it's possible or not, but I think just making Monday off for everybody would be a massive benefit. You can use Monday to travel, get to the All Star Game site, you kind of have a little bit of downtime to kind of rest and recuperate before the because once those festivities start on Monday, it's NonStop for forty eight hours, so I think especially, I mean, we're coming from the West coast to the East coast. Obviously in Atlanta, our flight didn't land till twelve thirty. I got two kids with me. By the time I get into bed and asleep, it's two am. You gotta be up early the next day to start the stuff, so it's just kind of like I said, it's NonStop. It's jam packed the schedule. So I don't know how if it's even possible, if it's feasible, But you know, the idea of giving everyone that Monday as just a total off day, start the start the All Star Game stuff Tuesday, which gives guys a chance to get there without being so rushed, I think would be would be helpful. Again, I'm not in charge of scheduling. I don't know anything about how that works logistically, but if that's at all possible, I think it's worth the discussion.

00:05:40
Speaker 4: And you would probably get more players there. But what definitely got a lot of players juiced was the home run derby and extra innings. Can you explain like the energy the feel from down on the field, because I was in the I was in the stands, and it was awesome seeing both dugouts jumping around like we were at a little league home run derby. Yeah.

00:06:00
Speaker 2: I mean, it's just like it's all the adrenaline of the act of the normal home run derby, but it's a team event now, and you've got guys that you compete against are now pulling for you. You know, you've got guys that you watch play every night and and respect like crazy, pulling for you and wanting you to want you to have success. You know, they're normally obviously rooting for you to fail because they're another team, and now they're pulling for you to have success so your team can win it. I was way more nervous to do that than I was the normal derby. I think the pressure is more just because, like I said, it's you're doing it for your team and in a team competitive environment. But I think it went about as well as it could have as far as the the actual swing off itself and the energy it brought and the excitement it brought, and I mean, what a cool way to win the exhibition game. Right. It's obviously it's a competitive thing every team wants to win, but in the end, it's an exhibition. It's a lot of fun. I think that's just an awesome way to end that kind of thing.

00:06:52
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00:07:03
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00:07:04
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00:07:22
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00:07:23
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00:07:52
Speaker 2: How aware were you of how that worked?

00:07:55
Speaker 1: Were you one of many that didn't even know it existed?

00:07:59
Speaker 2: No, I had been. Booney did a good job on Monday, kind of like right when we got there, he came out to me and I was like, Hey, you're gonna play the second half, so you'll still be around. Uh, and if the game ends and a tie, like, this is how we're gonna settle this thing extra innings, So like, are you willing to do this swing off if it if it were to happen, So obviously I agreed. Obviously didn't think that it was going to to come to pass, but it did, and I was there and I was ready, and it was a ton of fun.

00:08:24
Speaker 4: Do you feel like maybe some of the guys that left should have stayed around, or you think that's a each their own. Some guy's private jets just fly a little bit faster than yours.

00:08:36
Speaker 2: I Yeah, I don't fault anybody for getting out of there and try to enjoy as much as a break as they can. They obviously, guys that left, they came, they showed up, they played their part, they got there, they got their innings in, they they gave the fans what they wanted to see. And then I gues said, I don't fault anybody for trying to get out of there and spend the extra half day with family or whatever it is, just to try to enjoy as much as much of the break as they can.

00:09:00
Speaker 1: Rook, is there anything we can learn from that swing off? Because realistically you're almost never going to see it, right, you have to have an extra inning situation at the All Star Game?

00:09:09
Speaker 2: So is there anything we can.

00:09:11
Speaker 1: Learn from it for a regular season? Obviously, I know that's a sensitive subject for most but is there anything we can learn from the amount of entertainment it brought? And then, if not, what about for the All Star Game? Like, is there any way to incorporate that because it's an exhibition game and it seemed to be the most popular part of it.

00:09:29
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean no, there's in no way should that type of thing be implemented into the regular season, if that's what if that's what the question is. But as far as the All Star Game, I don't know, like a take take a break, but like a ten minute break between like the fifth and sixth inning, and do like a a I don't know, give five guys one swing and every home run they hit it as a run for the All Star Game. I don't know, just something like that. Get creative with it. You can play with the rules obviously an exhibition game like that now, especially since it doesn't determine home field advantage like it used to. But yeah, I I hadn't even thought about that till you asked the question. But that could be a fun little wrinkle just to guarantee that you get something like that in the game. Because it was obviously a huge hit from entertainment value standpoint, Fans loved it, I think players enjoyed it. So if you can incorporate that into like the middle innings, just to add a few runs here and there and get some guys on that stage and performing in that in that environment, I think that's not a bad idea at all.

00:10:21
Speaker 3: Dude, You're spot on. I love every second about everything you said there, that'd be so cool. I want to move on though, talk a little about Las Vegas. Man groundbreaking news here. What do you think about the move? And you thought about, you know, where you might need to live there? No, just kidding, but honestly, what are you thinking about the move there in Vegas? Groundbreaking?

00:10:41
Speaker 2: Pretty much? We're excited, you know. Obviously, the stadium getting started is awesome. We know it's going to be from drawings and renderings that we've seen, it's gonna be one of the best in the league. It's going to be staying of the art, the amenities and the facilities for us as well as the fan experience, they're going to be top notch. And and I think, you know, once we're there and established there, I think it becomes one of the better places to play in the league in terms of I mean, Las Vegas from all accounts, is a great place to live for families, a great city to hang out in. Obviously, all the entertainment in the world, state of the art, stadium, no income tax, is a huge draw for a lot of guys in terms of free agency stuff. So I think, you know, once we get there, I think it becomes one of the more attractive places to play in the league, and I think we can build a winning product for you know, the for the foreseeable future.

00:11:27
Speaker 4: Carlos Korean made some comments about the box in Sacramento. You play there every single day. What adjustments have you needed to make that you haven't needed to make at other places? Or have they made adjustments as the season is going on to make it. I think he was saying it was like concrete by the fifth or sixth inning and guys are sliding around.

00:11:50
Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean our ground screw has done a good job. Obviously, they are in a very unique situation in the field they take care of. There's a game on literally every single day of the summer besides Mondays sometimes, so they've done a good job, working hard on it, getting the service to fee as good as they possibly can. They've taken feedback and made some adjustments for us, added some extra water here and there when needed, added some extra dirt here and there when needed. And I commend those guys for the work that they've done because, like I said, they're in a spot and they've been tasked with a job that no of their grounds crew in the country is familiar with. And that's keeping up a field for two different teams playing on that service every day. So when you take in the take that into account, you take into account those type factors. I think they've done a phenomenal job, and they've made adjustments on the fly and tweak things here and there for us to make it as good as it can possibly be. Rook. I know it's serious stuff.

00:12:40
Speaker 1: And Luis Saverino signed there and has been vocal about the mound not being his favorite and also about not being able to prep the same way. What did you think of what he said? But also does anyone try and joke around with teammates like all right, close your eyes and visualize your somewhere else where you really love to be.

00:12:58
Speaker 2: I think it as a team overall, we've I mean, yes, it presents it's it's its own set of challenges that know other stadium does. Besides maybe you know Tampa's situation and in their park. But I think we've done a good job of justing and adapting and kind of tweaking our process and our our preparation to get to to where it needs to be to go out and compete and play every night. And I think you know Sevy his voice, his opinions, and we appreciate that as as a leader of our team that he's going out there and he's saying things that he feels and he believes to try to improve the situation for both himself and other guys in our team. But all in all, I think that we have done I've been proud of our guys for how we've handled it. I think we've done a solid job of making the best of the situation. Like I said, making the necessary adjustments and adaptations to to make it be as good as it can possibly be.

00:13:48
Speaker 1: Team question for you in terms of performance. So you guys were excited. We were at as camp heading into the season. Hey, this could be a sneaky, really good team. AJ who's on the show almost every day, like this playoff team. He was really excited about it. Aside from the whatever you want to call it, disaster month, right, I think it was like three and twenty seven in May, this has been a five hundred team.

00:14:08
Speaker 2: You can't do that. You can't take the month out. But can't you say your worst twenty three games and not count those?

00:14:15
Speaker 1: Yeah, but you did, you guys would be in the thick of a playoff race. And again I get it, like you have to get through the entire season that way, But what have you seen? What's your evaluation, because I'm sure it's disappointing when you have that all of that play being so bad in that one period of time, and then the rest of the time you guys are keeping up with teams.

00:14:33
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you know if you kind of take you can't do this obviously, but if you take our stadium and you divide it into two sections, that bad stretch and then the rest of the games, the rest of the games show us that we are very talented, and then we have the ability to go out and compete with anybody that we play against. We have the ability to go out and beat anybody we play against, and we have the right pieces in place to be very very competitive. And then the bad stretch kind of shows us where we're lacking, what we need to work on, where we need to improve, the areas that need to get better in order for us to be the team that we want to be throughout the course of the entire season. I think you see a ton a ton, a ton of talent, a ton of potential on our team. I think you also see a ton of youth on our team, guys that are learning what it means to play every single day in this league, what it means to fail in this league, what it means to have success in this league, and how those two go hand in hand. You know, I think you have to learn how to do both in order to have sustain success, both both as an individual and as a team. You have to learn how to succeed, But I think more importantly than that, you have to learn how to fail. You have to learn how to deal with those failures and have to learn how to compartmentalize and keep them in perspective, because the failure is inevitable for every single one of us who play the game at this level. So you're seeing guys learn how to do both those things. And I think in the end that's you know three and whatever it was one in twenty, that bad stretch is going to ultimately pay dividends for our guys as individual players and for us as a team and the near future, because I think it's going to help us improve and get to the place that we want to be.

00:16:01
Speaker 4: Has the front office giving you any assurance that you're not getting traded. You sign an extension and people are.

00:16:06
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not going anywhere crazy, We're good. I'm staying.

00:16:10
Speaker 4: You've got You've gotten that assurance. Does that make you feel better?

00:16:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. I, Like I said, I signed the extension because I'm where I want to be. I believe in what we're doing. I believe in the people that we have on our team, on our roster, on our coaching staff, in the building. I believe in everything we have going on, and I want to I want to be a part of That's that's why I decided to are one of the reasons why I decided to sign that extension and stay here, and I will not be going anywhere this trade deadline boom. There you go.

00:16:36
Speaker 1: It's actually important that you said that because this is the week of the year where rumors go nuts and that you actually get insiders that will throw one thing out and then another will come out and be like, actually that's not true. So it's nice to get it from the player themselves. Love it, rook Well, thanks for joining us, dude.

00:16:53
Speaker 2: This was great. Appreciate the time.

00:16:54
Speaker 1: Congrats to get on the awesome All Star run, and good luck the second half.

00:16:57
Speaker 2: Dude. We'll catch down the road. Thanks guys, appreciate it.