Jason Heyward on his LEGENDARY Game 7 rain delay speech & CHOOSING Cubs as free agent | Ross & Rizzo

I got nervous. He always good nervous, right, he runs
the show.
Love that.
Jason Hayward, David Ross, Anthony Rizzo. Welcome back to another
episode of Level Reunion. We are here a Marquis Studios,
my partner, David Ross, ih Nah Jason Hayward, two time
World Series Champion, five gold gloves and all around one
of the best human beings I've ever played with, teammates
I've ever played with. Welcome to the show. Can you
believe it's been ten years.
I cannot believe it's been ten years. I appreciate that welcome,
you know, coming from people with high praise in the game,
some of my favorite teammates in the world and best
people to be around, and we're doing it here in Chicago,
so it's good to be with you guys.
We go, we go way back, like Atlanta. That's where
I kind of want to start with your career. I
watched and probably a lot of Cubs fans. Remember, I
gotta set the scene because I've never you and Freddie
say coming up together, and you guys came to spring
training and obviously big, huge humans coming in all this
hype about what they're supposed to be and I'm getting
chills thinking about it.
And Opening Day you take Zaan Brono.
Way back into the bullpen, and like I thought in
my career as one of the coolest moments I had
ever seen from a rookie with all the hype you
got and how you've handled it, kind of played out
your whole career who you are and how pro you are.
But you just handle.
Everything so easily and the expectation around you, and then
you go deep deep Opening Day, Bro, you carried that
well with class as you did your whole career. Man,
it's like it's really looking back, it's fun to look back.
On those moments and been able to watch. We were lockermates, right, No,
I appreciate it.
Bro.
Tom flew from that moment on, like from the first
A B to here we are today talking about it
like I've just retired. You've just retired. Fortunately we got
to spend the last year of your career together. You
walking off as a champion, hitting the home in your
last freaking game.
You know what I'm saying. Those are the moments right there.
Boy, You know that we get chills about obviously, but
oh man, like your locker being next to mine. People
ask me about did I ever get ship as a rookie,
and I'm like, for the most part, no, you got
what you gave. But if anybody was going to give
it to me, right absolutely, right here. My favorite thing
you always bee you replaced.
We used to go to the Team Dinners in Atlanta,
and we didn't have a whole lot of like high
like Big Network Sunday games. We always got to go
somewhere and go Team Dinners all the time. And Jay, hey,
we'd order and I always did the sides and never
going around and.
Freaking Jay, Hey, hey, Ross, can you give me some
of the crab.
Grab games?
But he wouldn't order himuse his rookie. He was like, hey, we.
Were twenty when you broke in twenty Wow. I remember
in two thousand and six we were playing in East Cobb, Georgia. Marriotta, Georgia.
You're in the East Cobb astros. I believe, right, is
that the time you run and I knew who you were.
You had no idea who I was. And your dad
was working like maintenance on the field, and my dad
talked to your dad about Jason Hayward and this and that,
and we played against each other. You don't remember what
I do because you were a superstar and I was
an one at the time. So but it was so
cool to see you make your debut with the Braves.
You and Freddie Freeman, we all got drafted the same year.
You get drafted by your hometown team. How cool was
that slash? Looking back? How hard was that?
It was?
Man, all those moments, even coming from an East Cobb,
all the build up being in the Braves backyard.
Right.
We watched a lot of guys do that, some of
our former teammates, right, Brian McCann, Frank Core, you know,
Eric Kenski. But it was it was like, welcome to
the big leagues. You watch this team on TV your
whole life. Now you get to go be in the
same clubhouse with the Bovia Cox Chipper Jones, Like Chipper
was like one of my baseball cards. Yeah, you know
what I'm saying, Well, that's your hometown exactly.
We used to tell Chipper we grew up watching him
on Black and White team.
You No, it's all coming back around, man, it's the
Atlanta time was fun and being the being locker mats
for all that time, watching you grow in your career,
and following as I left him, went to Boston and
then you know, you bounced around a little bit. You
went to the enemy for a little bit, went to
Saint Louis, had a really good year before here, took
less money.
Right, walk me through your free agent process.
You're finally a free agent, bounced around a little bit,
had a great year in Saint Louis, and you choose
the Cubbies.
So getting traded out of Atlanta, getting introduced to the
business ide very young into the game. Uh, Saint Louis
year twenty fifteen was my free agent. Walk here, great
group of people, amazing vibes playing baseball, playing to win, right,
living World championships. I'm like, this is what I asked
to do, is just play to win. But you don't
know how it's going to go. It goes. But playing
this division was like an introduction to the Midwest. Those
vibes of people who care about their teams with like
a different type passion. And so getting to do that
six times a year, you know, three times, you know
here it really because that's when you still played the
teams every time before all the inter league coming to regularly,
I'm like, for one, first thing I know is like
they got a lot of young guys. They're going to
be together for a long time. And if I had
to pick somewhere, I want to be That's ideal. After
seeing what was happening in Saint Louis, it was about
a kind of tear down and rebuild. We went through
it in Atlanta, I'm like, I want to go somewhere,
and like you don't know who's going to be with,
but then you just adding everything else that comes with
being a cup, like the history playing on this like
cathedral of a saying lot here at regularly, all the
history there. But then like yourself, then seeing Dex, then
seeing Rossie come over, seeing them go get less, knowing
that THEO has all types of experience, and like breaking
a curse. So I'm like you, if I got a choice,
like let's make it here. They know no brainer, like
they're trying to win. They got a group that's going
to be the guyther for a long time. Let's see
if we can make history.
And you've made your home here, that's how much you've
liked it. Yeah, that's impressive.
When THEO is selling you in the free agent, because
when you're a good When you're really good, when you're
a top free agent, you get the red carpet treatment,
probably flew around and meet everyone. We were never that
good out about us.
Stop.
But what was he selling you on here? Because you
say the cathedral, but you don't really I feel like
until you play here, you really don't understand it until
you're ingrained in this culture of the fandom, playing at
Wrigley every day, playing at Real really on a Tuesday
in August and it's sold out, you know what I mean?
Like all what makes it special being in a neighborhood,
the boat on the lake right, everything that comes in
it so.
Way, games is so great for your family. I love
that about it here.
Other than really winning, what else did he come at
you with to get you to come here? Because ultimately
you did take less money to be a Chicago cumpany
I did.
I was offered two hundred from Saint Louis for ten
uh sixteen, that was unheard of with no opt outs,
and then and the full no trade, offered two hundred
Nationals with Saint Louis.
They made the last offer, Colonel Fans and then let's go.
The Nationals with Dusty Baker was there, offered two hundred
for eight or whatever. But as far as THEO goes,
that was one of the I didn't go around, bro, Like,
I kind of did the thing that I've always done,
just stay low key, wait to see how things play out.
I'm twenty six years old, so I know at the worst, Bro, like,
I'm going somewhere somebody's gonna pay me some kind of
money and I have a chance to like keep going
trying to win.
But everything just lined up. You know.
It was like, Bro, we played against you guys here
in fifteen last series between Cards Cubs at Brickley, Who
and so we took two out of three in Saint Louis,
Like the Saint Louis side we won the first two,
but the last one Cubbies won. I remember leaving the
visiting locker room, getting on the bus headed to the airport.
No police escort. That's a big thing.
Shout out VJ.
You know what I'm saying.
And as we're headed towards Urban Park, I was like,
wait a minute, bro, Like we just won the series
here two out of three, and it feels like they
just won the damn series.
Yeah, it's placed rocks Man.
So those things are what sold me naturally.
And then like everything else, you talk about day games,
you talk about being a part of the regular culture
the city, seeing Cubs logos everywhere on everything like those
are things that I got to experience as I got
here that I had not as much of an idea.
But there's something about the warm summer air and a
cold chrona the line that makes the roar ofless crowds
sound a lot like the roar of the waves.
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Bro.
I remember so every visiting player used to come here.
They used to be like, man, I don't know how
you do all these day games. I think you've said
it to me too, But then when you get to Chicago,
when you play the day games, you don't understand. I
never understood what anyone was talking about. And then I
got traded to New York and the day games there were.
Then I immediately realized what every visitor used to say
to me. I don't know how they did all those
day games because it was just a different day game
in New York compared to Chicago. We're here, it's like,
you play the day game, you're out by five thirty,
You got family in town, you get to be a
normal person. You can go to dinner nice when I
was younger. When I was younger, it was like, oh, yeah,
it's great. You know, if you go out, you can
go home by you know, eleven or twelve. Come to
find out, no, you just start earlier. Still at the
same time, right, yeah, So I think that kind of
went against In.
The boat days, we talked about like, I mean, we
can get into just how generous you've been, and we'll
get into that with with so much of of your
fortune that you were able to make in this game
and treating other people, but taking us out on your
boat for.
Those day games and having like team.
We did a lot of team camaraderie of the off
the field, and it was because of like you and
Johnny Lester and guys that was like going out with
Riz and just we did a lot of fun stuff
off the field that was was really really valuable.
But before we.
Forget Atlanta, I've got to bring up I'll.
Call it the cup bump. All right, cup call, there's
another word, costar, you can say.
It's his show, he can say it.
So we had this thing and we're watching Dusty Baker
on MLB Network, watching him them talking by him in
inventing the high five, and I'm in the lock We're
all in the locker room. I'm like, he invented the
high five. I want to invent something cool. And I
was like, what about the cock bump and cup bump up?
And Ugler was like, I was like, if we go deep,
I want I want somebody else.
We're touching cups. Sure enough is the one who hits
the first home run and his eyes were this big
looking for me.
He watched it him.
That's when it started, and we started the cup bump.
But then Jay Hay coming over in sixteen, we're on
a bus ride and he leans over to me.
His ROSSI what happened to the what happened to the
cup bump? The cock bump? And I'm like, we need
to bring that back, don't we He's like absolutely, And
that's how that all started.
And then we watched my home run in Game seven,
and I watched that highlight every once in a while
when it pops up, and it's just like.
I'm just cockbuff and everything it was, it was, it
was fun.
I wanted to I had to bring that up because
you were the one that brought that back over here.
Bro.
It's so funny because sometimes I'll see the highlight of
your homwerk and then it gets to like right where
he's about to get to me on deck and they're
like they'll.
Bleep it out. I'm like, I know, I know why
they bleep that out.
You're the first one I saw walking in after home
run and you were looking at me like we're doing
this boom so good.
There's nothing better then. There's nothing better than in a
game when you have your your stuff with your guys,
like the inside jokes and it comes to life.
Oh man, you were talking about it in the locker room.
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Be there.
I know the story. I know this story behind your
number is special to you. I know you've told the
story before, But can you explain why number twenty two
you wore out your whole career for the most part.
Yeah, bro, I appreciate your guys asking about it, and
I haven't tatted here on my neck. One of my
high school teammates, Andy will Mott, he's UH from Middle Tennessee.
He was a senior. He was junior. Sorry the girl
we want to stay together. I was a sophomore, but
my senior year he came back from UH school, came
to our homecoming football game, saw his mom. His mom
was one of my teachers, and she was beloved throughout
the whole community. She was like team mom of the
whole school, Miss Tammy Rushting. And we find out the
Monday morning on his way back, he gets in the
car accident, passes away, and I just remember, like the
whole baseball team coming together alone first in the cafeteria,
and I mean, these are things you can't make up,
like the feelings that that brought and how it brought
us down. But immediately we wanted to all rush together
be supportive of her. And I remember going back to
her classroom every day whenever I was walking through to
another class like, hey, how are you good to see you?
Wow.
When I graduated, I would come back. I would go
to her classroom, sitting there like talk crap the summer.
Her students feel like, hey, like, y'all better be nice
to her. If not, she's going to tell me and
so on. So that was routine. So once I found
out I was going to be number twenty two with Atlanta,
Nate mccloth had number twenty four. He'll be trained over
from the Pirates, and I remember Ben Benn. Yeah, after
Ben Akrey coming up to me in the clubhouse in
Orlando's like, hey, Jay, like, I know you've been twenty four,
you're a hoker and from high school, but are you
cool with twenty two? I'm like absolutely, Oh wow. I'm
like it's you know what, it's perfect. And so driving
up from spring training, our first season opener was in
was in Atlanta April fifth, and I stopped through Henry County,
go by the high school. My fall league jersey was
also number twenty two. And so if you do fall
league right, like, you get the major league replica jersey.
I was like, she's going to get the first one
before I even get one.
Wow.
So I walk in the classroom tell her nobody else
knew my number at the time, right because you keep
it a secret. And I handed to her and I'm like,
I want you to have this, and she just broke down.
Wow, that's incredible.
But that's that's nice.
That's how it came about.
And she had the first jersey walking in before they
started the sales and like the fifth inning or whatever.
So that's that's the story. I want her to do
something in memory of Andy. Do it for her and
then everybody else in Herrick County. They knew Andy so well.
I appreciate you guys asking.
Me, of course.
I mean Jay Hay always was so generous for us.
And we talk about all the guys on the team
that were generous, right Lester Lackey, Jay being twenty six
years old, being a massive veteran on our team with
deep pockets, which which definitely help. But every every year,
for the most part, every opening Day. I think Lester
may have done this first, and then you you did it?
Would you get us iPads one year? The new computers
and Apple.
Comparisers still have I tell the story my son, my
son has stolen them. But the Apple the Apple earphones.
Yeah, everybody, when you're when you're super pro in the
big leagues, on opening Day, you'll buy all the boys
gifts kind of wishing them, Hey, here's cheers. Do a
good season year in and year out. That's that stuff
adds up. But you always did it. And even today
I see Jay today, haven't seen him in a while.
We're both Arsenal fans soccer, fans football. They just won
the Premier League twenty twenty six Champions one two years
and Jayy, out of the kindness of his heart, gives
me a nice little Premier League championship with a bottle
of screaming. I don't know if you ever heard of it,
but this is some rare software and it's this is
gift comes bearing gifts. Sure, we should have been giving
us him a gift to this.
You know you don't bring gifts. We're giving you. So
we've got a nice lovable reunion hoodie for you.
I appreciate it. Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, we're celebrating though.
This is this is just who we are. This is
our culture, this is our DNA, and like you can't
fake it. So just happy, happy to do it well.
And so that just leads me into it's so funny
how these things just kind of walk themselves. You signed
with the Cubs, you get all that money. I get
a text from.
DJ says, DJ's are traveling having secretary.
That's that's that's in the Show's the show that says, Hey,
mister Hayward's taking care of your room on the road
all year long.
He's given you a suite so you can enjoy your
last year with the family.
And I'm like, wait, what I do you even know?
Like, huh, what what do you mean?
And he goes, he goes, I'm just I'm just doing
what mister Hayward said. So I call him, man, what
a cool one, what a cool idea. And then you
took care of me and Eric Hinsky for a suite
on the road my last year, and I was able
to bring my family. I had one of the sickest rooms.
We shared a room in Vegas. That was the two
bedrooms we'd start the sixteenth season. Oh, it was ridiculous.
But man, that was like the proesst of pros. Talking
about how generous you are again with gifts and then
just taking care of the people who you've been around
and looked up to and it impacted your life was
just like super cool. I still tell everybody that story
all the time. It's like it's wild man.
Backup catcher getting a suite on the road.
Yeah.
Yeah, And I could negotiate the I wouldn't give me one.
That's all right. I got my man Jay hay taking
care of me.
No, But you talk about impacting someone's life, man, I'm
twenty years old making my way into the big leagues.
These are my college yeares.
Right, yeah, no doubt, And I'm an adult playing for
my hometown team. But I'm no longer at home like
I'm at work, and so getting to have my locker
next to yours, like show me every day, paying attention
to detail how to be a pro. I got to
see you fight for guys every damn day. But then
on your day, we know how it is on his
start day.
No doubt. Get the fuck out of the way.
Angry, I'm angry. So I only signed two your deals.
As I said, you just signed to your deals because
your clubhouse cancer segond.
Man.
I just again, I look back on that and what
a great ride my last year was obviously, and you
guys carrying me off the field and what I mean,
that's the coolest moment ever. And we'll get to that,
but like just that year in general, and how special,
like each person is a piece, right.
We talked about Decks and Johnny and all.
The guys, like everybody matters, Lackey, Leicester Areata, just so
many great dudes on that team and we're all brothers
for life. But like it was stuff like that that
separated this team that I've I've been on and able
to be a part of the special dudes, what.
Were your first impressions signing? Because you signed Cubs convention.
We all went out, right, I remember all us all
going out, So what was your first because I had
a charity event, right, we did the laugh off for cancer,
and then we all went out afterwards, and I remember
you came with us, and I was pumped because we're
the same age. My job on the team was to
always make everyone feel welcome as fast as possible, and
you're the big free agent, so it was like I
was pumped, bro right away.
I knew talking about like making people feel comfortable and
feel welcome, like you brought that vibe, bro, Like it's
very comfortable. Like for me when I saw Tony every
day at the field, I'm like, nah, like this is
the cobbies right here, Like these are the vibes, this
is Chicago, and you wore that on your sleeves.
That's what I tell him, right, you can't have a
bad time around Tony.
You can't have a bad time around Tony. Even when
he's having a bad time, when.
He's taking front of him, you still can't have a
bad time around him. But I love that you asked
this because My impression is we go to your chariot
event after Cubs Convention, getting welcomed by the fans and
everything like that, like you felt the momentum. But then
we go to dinner, one of the best show dinners
you're ever gonna have, get to sit down and talk
with the boys, get to like lock up with Swarves
a little bit, talk outfield stuff and like sword just like,
I'm pumped, Bro, we got you, we got you. We
got you in the outfield. Bro, Like I'm super pumped
to have you, and I'm like, thank you, Bro, I
appreciate it. But stuff's coming at me fast. Of course,
we go out. We're all in suits and stuff, right,
we're looking sharp. They'll dap it up. We have our
own section at this club. But people are still like
coming through like foldo videos. Yes, and I remember, but
that was the first time I had been out where
it's like, yeah, it doesn't matter, like we're good bro,
like THEO whoever, Like they don't care.
Yeah, I remember, I remember I said that too.
You know what I'm saying. Yeah, we're getting ready to
do something special. We're gonna go out here. We're gonna
go like as far as we can into the postseason.
We need to show up every day and try to win.
That's all they care about. But like to put a
bowl on this. We go out, we party hard, we
have fun. The next morning, waking up, I look at Instagram,
I see sports Center has posted the caption your twenty
sixteen World Series Champs. No way, and above that is
a photo of all of us out that night. I'm like, bro,
there's no way that made like Instagram sports Center right now,
it's January January fifteen, sixteen. Yeah, so, like those were
our vibes, you know what I'm saying.
Like we've been talking about that every every episode. Those
were the vibes. Oh in the spring training it set
the tone.
Wow, well that was it?
Like what so now you you meet the boys and
then now you're pumped to go in spring training? Like
what was your first impressions of Joe and the and
the group as a whole. Obviously we love Mesa and
Sloan Park and all that, but like Bussy Bussy the
whole skit.
There was someone to cover every detail of whatever they
needed to be right, whether it's like all right, we
need to step up a little bit more, we need
to chill the fuck out a little bit more, Joe.
Sometimes Joe'd be like, why you guys getn't here so early?
It makes no sense?
You know what it is great now you're right, you're right.
But we'd be like, no, bro, like we care, we
want to I know you care, you know, but like
it was just nice to have those kind of voices
of reason. But then lastly, like playing at Sloan Park,
they wanted you to get him in on second with
a double nobody out, We need you to get him over,
and we needed a guy on the guy on third
to score from like a ground ball somewhere or side fly.
In spring training game one, we're expecting ABC Baseball. We
need to win today at Sloan Park. Yeah, those were
new vibes for me, and like it was, it was
it was a cool way to be like, nah, like
we're trying to do this.
Wow.
Do you at what point though, did you really realize
we had a good team from day one to spring
training or was there something? Because I mean spring training
every team thinks they're good, right, we obviously had a
lot of momentum. We beat you guys in fifteen to
get even more momentum we sign you was it spring training?
Was there a game early on in the regular season
that you felt something different or that it was just
survived the whole time.
I look at everything like it's one season, always like
I can't help it, gifting a curse. But no, I
just felt like every variable, every hurdle we came through
challenge with all right, Bro, so what we lost today?
Are all right, guys, we're down five, so what And
the other teams would see us be that way, laughing
through our struggles. We'd come back, win, win, six'. Five
we're up by three going into the, eighth we went
fucking by. Ten we never stopped playing the. Game we
never stopped having, fun like correcting each, other and So,
bro all those moments like we would, fight we would,
argue AND i very much so felt LIKE i was
on like one of my travel teams growing, up because
it was, Like, bro three two, count we're locked arms
in the, dugout no matter if we're like just like figured.
Out we were just on the, base on the, base
like for them to get on the base. Manifested, yeah, man,
Yeah so.
All those, things all those little, details like no, shit
they counted it, mattered but on a daily, basis how
that not, Bro like there's nowhere Else i'd rather be right,
now AND i was struggling right on the offensive time
and not making it about, me but like those, things
focusing on, winning focusing on having, fun and like moving
through the tough times and laughing at them and saying,
no like we got something to, do we got somewhere
to be that made it the.
Best that's what looking back and obviously knowing in the moment,
Too but LIKE i think one thing that stands out
to your teammates that have been around you is like
you never took your offense to defense or your struggles
offense into the dugout or into the.
Clubhouse like you came to win every day with the
mindset of.
Like i'm here to come to, Work i'm here to
help everybody get. Better i'm here to do my, part
AND i want to win baseball, games whether it's not
about me like you, said like, statistically BUT i do
know you as a person and being able to manage
you and all, That like you put a lot of
pressure on. Yourself it had to be hard coming in
with like a hundred you know that much money coming
your way and again another moment where you know you
carry a Little it's not LIKE kb had a set
of expectations that he you, know that he dealt with
and put a lot of pressure on. Himself you had it,
Differently AND i saw it In john in his first,
year like it's hard coming into a new place with
that much money and.
Everybody expected you to go deep four.
Times a, game, Right, like tell, me, how tell me
how hard that was on the back end of your
career after so much success early on in his, career
he went through some. Struggles you, KNOW i TALK i
think about sixteen and everybody.
Mattered but the fact.
Of like how you carried yourself through the, STRUGGLES i
thought was like spoke volumes to who you are and
that most people know you.
Well the name of the game is how you handle.
Failure you're going to fail more times than, not and
for us as baseball, players like that can be very,
cliche BUT i knew how to handle.
It hated. It but moving past, that, bro, like how was?
It it was like having the Biggest rubik's qub in
the world and just every day trying to figure everything
his baseball, everything and because of the variable for, me
it was, new like to have so many day. Games
this is the third new city three years in a,
row going From Atlanta Saint louis To chicago and leaving the,
Field i'm, like all, Right i'm going, Home like we
just had a.
Game i'm going. Home we got a game. Tomorrow But i'm,
like wait a, Minute like the sun's still. Out you
know it rained. Earlier now it's. Beautiful it's, Amazing LIKE
i need to figure, out like What i'm going to.
Eat there's a billion great restaurants to pick, from but,
like but where DO i?
Go how DO i do?
It like all little, things all human elements that you're
getting east to new, city new, people new, faces, names
literally everything.
Everything so like those things along the, Way i'm, like, yeah,
bro it's a. Lot BUT i knew there was. QUIT
i knew we're going to do our best to. Win
and that's just, Me like how DO i move past?
It trying to win and sometimes right too Hard and
if you live like, that we know how it's going to.
Go like you don't get a lot of good.
Results so that that kind of lined up that way for,
Me LIKE i, said gift and a, curse you can
be trying to. Win you can want to win so.
Badly but, yeah obviously like base running club house sometimes
getting some big knocks there because of our lineup being
so so well put. Together like every a bat was
a bigger, bat you know What i'm. Saying like that's another,
Thing like everya bat's a bigger. Bat like that's that's
a new. Thing like regardless of how much money you're, making,
bro like if you're playing on a team that actually
legitimately expects to, Win like these are different, vibes so
like so all, new.
But but it never matters how much money you, make
like that's the product of the, success like moving, Forwards
LIKE i don't get in the, box.
Go, Oh i'm. CHILL i got plenty of.
Money, no it only it only matters when you get a.
DINNER i get all the, free, free free.
Meals SO i like being being one of the guys
on the, team, right being the, leader young leader like you,
were like we were when You what you have to
learn in the big leagues is when we're winning like we,
Were AND i learned this in twenty fifteen and then
sixteen and. On when we win and you don't do well,
personally you have to man up and go into that
clubhouse and legitimately be happy for your other teammates to
have good. Games and on the other, side you need
to also realize that if you have a good, game
you can't be the raw raw guy because there's three
or four guys that didn't have a good, game Right
but like, that.
Nobody like that.
Guy guy is the worst guy because they're so happy
if they get a, hit and if they don't get a,
hit they're down in the. Dumps and it's just it's
such a long. Season but you were so good at,
that and looking back now and talking about you taught
me that because WHENEVER i would not have a good game,
PERSONALLY i would literally lean on the guys who had
a good game to cheer me up. Personally and that's
what makes a winning team because a lot of, teams
they'll come in and be like they'll. Winning you guys
aren't doing. Well those guys kind of bad, eggs and
it's on the good guys to uplift the entire.
Team where do you feel like that comes?
From like, you you obviously LIKE i know you're, here but,
everybody your reputation everywhere you've Been you're loved by. Everybody
you're the proest of. Pros like where did you learn?
That your your mom and, DAD i know are special
you know watching them be around when you came, up
and they're special humans as, Well but like where do
you think you learned.
Just you're just so.
Probo you're always thinking about others and you put yourself,
second which is like not always a case with.
Superstars you, know first, off my parents managers will take
you where money. Won't that was like big in the,
house earn everything that comes.
From manners will take you where money.
Money will not take. You, obviously the other cliche.
Like like it's not always like what you know who you?
Know but, no, Bro since eight years, Old i've been
taught how to play the game right, way And i've
seen that play out over and over again with winning,
baseball and we won The Roberto Clement Taybor World series
as the McDonough dodgers seven and.
Eighteen then we went.
Into like travel ball at nine years, old played in
all these kind of, Tournaments Super, SERIES aau and so.
On then you talk about getting To East cobb winning
a state. Championship he was the best player ever you, Win,
Bro like sophomore ye first, round so that was the
first round and we don't know, nothing you know WHAT i?
Mean but it was all those things for me came
from loving, practice loving the, game and then WHEN i
got to the, GAME i was, like oh this is you,
know we've already been over, This like now just go,
play just go have, fun like you're always playing to.
Win And i've been on so many teams in the
big leagues where every game it counted for. Something and
the first TIME i remember the first TIME i stepped
on the field in twenty fourteen With Atlanta, braves it
was like the last week and half of the season
that we weren't playing for.
ANYTHING i was, like what are we?
DOING i did not like, it and so as on
the back end of my, career like began to appreciate
and respect.
That But, BRO i just cared about. WINNING i cared about.
OTHERS i cared about the, details like the hard work
the catchers put, in the relievers put, in like guys
that are grinding trying to figure things, Out like all
the attention comes your way when people think About Kyle,
cubbs Like Tony, rizzo how Did rizzo do?
Today?
Right, Oh like Did rizzo come? Through Did rizzo?
Failed same WITH, kb like being a big superstar, Rookie
Like i've been, there done, That Like hobby trying to
figure things, Out Johnny lester being him lack like all these, details,
bro Like i've seen play out in different roles in
my lifetime in. Baseball i'm just, like, nah, like just
make sure everybody else is. GOOD i Know i'm gonna be, good,
right make sure everybody else is good and we're gonna.
Roll it's a unique. Quality is it's such a such
a good.
Quality did you have a did you have a time
in sixteen where you're, like what the fuck are we?
Doing from like From joe from The circus AS i
would pull from Me Dexter rossy going at or clubhouse
stuff where you're ever just, like what are we doing?
Here every?
Day and.
Every every day is a good?
Answer every good, answer good, answer good answer.
To like when we were At Cubs con this year
earlier and we had that dinner AND i was telling you,
guys like, genuinely thank you for showing me how to
have fun playing this, game because it's not the night,
shift it's the day shift right coming here To wrigley
and then enjoying the, city enjoying your, life like which
are all things THAT i think are very important to
talk about, me like Making chicago. Home But i'm, like all, right,
Bro like we've got guys TAKING bp before a day.
Game we've guys got not TAKING. Bp we got guys
taking a. Nap we've got guys eating in the dugout
in the third. Inning we've got guys eating. In it's
a legit, circus, Bro no Dou like SOMETIME i was
a nap. Guy by the, WAY i became a nap. Guy,
yeah you, know like didn't KNOW i needed. IT i needed,
It and so there's a, reason like things started to trend,
up but you had to figure out your. Place but,
like well there's so many, things like all the times
we got together and met, up yeah after the, game
like with with not just the, players with, everyone whether it's,
families your, girlfriend people's. Dogs like we had dolls on the.
Plane we had dolls on the show. Plane that's the thing.
So, well and you talk ABOUT i Think joe facilitated
a lot of.
That we had the guys that did, it.
But joe kind of kind of led us to be,
like you need a life outside of, baseball like turn
off when you leave this place and have some. Fun
we had so many great charity events when those years
were here with, You, Lester, joe like, everybody we had,
big a lot of big charity events where we celebrated
and had fun off the.
Field let's get to some playoff. Talk, Please let's get
to some playoff, talk, RIGHT i mean the, fun the fun.
Stuff the year, ends, right we clench and we know
we're good going Into you know we're. Good you know
what was it like going in to the postseason for?
You FOR i, mean you had been to the postseason
number of.
TIMES i don't think you had made it out of
the first round right.
Right, There that's WHAT i was gonna. Say, YEAH i
hadn't been to the, playoffs made it out of the first.
Round knows his teammates hadn't made it past the first
round until The covees been to the. Postseason damn near
every year hadn't been pasted the first. Round BUT i
really remember this about the day we are like our
last regular season, game but we were down. Big somehow
we come back Like joe does like kind of a line,
change get some guys in the, game and, bro we
come back and win like by like six AND i,
REMEMBER i THINK i can't. Remember it was like The
reds whoever we were, playing and their dugouts just looking at, us, like,
bro like what are they? Doing you know What i'm, Saying, Like,
bro we were won one hundred and two games at the,
time that was our one hundred and third, win and
it's just, like, bro like y'all didn't even have to
like play right. Now we just fucking, nope we got a.
Game this is this is our ship as, usual and
it was, business you know What i'm. Saying but then
like getting into the, postseason it was a different feel
in the sense of a game like you're picked to,
win we go get chapping in the, deadline and you're
up in the division by twelve. Games thirteen, games.
Like you're the best striking baseball a, year, right?
Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely. Yeah so just seeing everything play.
Out you talked About San Francisco, giants you, know Facing. Cuato,
obviously remember the hobby game ONE o eight. Off the
bat barely gets in the basket unless.
Like it should have been On waveland and it pictures
dues in the, basket.
Right so like getting something bass early in those games for,
me LIKE i think it was like one for four,
game but Like hobby AND i doing, something and then
like setting the table a little bit for the top
of the, lineup like you guys doing your. Thing but
it was just like it doesn't matter what you. Did,
Bro like all year it was the ball one going our.
Way fans like, yeah but then the postseason it was
like ball. One, yeah everything is you know What i'm, Saying,
like so just just getting chills along the. Way and then,
lastly like giants first, round.
Believe in, right every even year my whole. Career, yeah
won The World series, Yep oh that shit's. Real then
getting To la.
Yep well we went back To cali like the big,
franchise getting it done in six games against. Them i'm,
like all, right like we just knocked off two giants
in this. Sport and then last year we Had cleveland
like nobody took for, granted but we all know how that.
WENT i won't get too far.
Head it wasn't names like you're talking, About but was
it looking back, now was it hard for you personally
to enjoy this? Selfishly success when you weren't having the
success that you were accustomed, to because it didn't seem
like it as a as a. Teammate but you never
know what's going on. Inside someone could be paddling like a,
duck you know WHAT i. Mean so because it never
seemed that you were ever, selfish but it's it's hard
not to be selfish when you're not hitting your own.
EXPECTATIONS i think it taught me a lot about needing
to be more selfish at times and then like getting
into it, again like third organization in my young. Career
Like atlanta has a different type of, Structure Saint louis
has a different type of, structure but like the culture
here was what it needed to be to manage the day,
games to manage like the national nationally televised, games to
manage how much we get together and how much we,
do like how you're gonna. Function SO i had to
learn all that stuff and then put it. Together but
as far as enjoying, It, no this is WHAT i asked,
for and like that's one thing That i'm always gonna,
Do Like i'm not gonna make an, excuse not gonna regret,
Anything LIKE i wanted to win The World, series and
so with that amount of, Sacrifice, Bro like this is
what it looks. Like not saying, that like my numbers are,
results but like, not, like this is how hard it.
Is here you, are you have an opportunity to do.
It so go figure it. Out go figure it. Out
you got a, Team you've got the group to do.
It nothing those things to be Worth.
YEAH i mean we've all played with guys that aren't
doesn't does not have this attribute as a, person you
know WHAT i. Mean where it's it's so easy in
baseball to be. Selfish it's so it's the easiest thing to,
do and especially when you're so used to being An
All star and hitting the way you. Hit your defenses
never has always been a beauty base runn has always been.
Great but where you're not playing your, expectations it's, like,
man you can go into a hole and then on
the other, side that's when the teammates need to come
in to play the. Most where it's, like, no, bro
this is like you, said like.
WHEN i can relate to what you're talking about of,
like sometimes you've got to be a little more. SELFISH
i learned later in my career you, know you just
want to, win but also it's, like, YEAH i want
to keep playing.
And hold up my end of the. BARGAIN i want
to be there for the, boys you.
Know AND i, know LIKE i always THOUGHT i was
raised my parents is, great like be humble and just
do your. Thing but also LIKE i always jealous of
the guys were almost super.
Cocked they always believed in, them you know WHAT i.
Mean i'm, like you, know you'd be or you know
some GUYS i was around just like zero for you, know,
twelve and they're, Like i'm going deep.
TODAY i know, it you know Where i'm, LIKE i
am the worst, player you know WHAT i? Mean like
that who that whole having a little bit of that
selfish self.
Confidence, uh sometimes it is hard hard to. Do so
we go to The World, series, right we, clinch beat The,
dodgers beat The, Boys game, six big. Party we're going
in The World series and you find out you're not,
starting you don't start games, one, two and. Three it
was really cool to hear cognit story about him starting
but also like his version of, like oh, god that
Means Jay hayes starting right and talking about that you're,
selfish like you're happier starting and you've been our guy
right or, die and not one peep out of.
You you were positive as. Hell like take me through
dealing with that a little.
BIT i mean that that you're the dude and you
don't start in The world series LIKE i do want
to kill, myself you, know, like.
Hey it was metaphor, speaking no, no no, doubt like
it was the real is real. SHIT i got a
taste of it a little bit in The giant, series
not starting. Whatever BUT i think there's one thing about
That i've, learned especially like later into my, career people
have a hard time telling me like real news sometimes
because they got to be straighted with. Me they don't
want to tell me bad, news, Right AND i appreciate.
That probably because he's just such a good.
Person but you know What i'm, saying that's the best
and do not want to tell him, this WHICH i,
Understand but at the same, TIME i, bro just just
come tell, me, right SO i can like go do
my job and like make sure everybody else is good,
now like even more, so like lean into, that right
as long as you know what's going on is kid
so and this is not, AGAIN i like start off
that way Because joe hadn't told, me hadn't talked to.
Me the lineup kind of came out, late and we
know the, game we know the, field we know each,
other we.
Spend a lot of time. Together i'm, like all, right
like it's gonna. Happen i'm probably not starting because the
line of man came out, Yet like we're about to
go to the.
Field get to the. Field line of man came.
Out it comes, out and then the first PEOPLE i
see are, reporters and they asked, me HAD i talked.
To the manager?
Yet And i'm, like, NO i, HAVEN'T i, said But
i'm sure he's got a lot of shit to do right.
Now the lineup is a lineup where our team we
made it, here this Is game. One BUT i haven't
talked to. HIM i can't lie to you and say,
YEAH i spoke to him BECAUSE i didn't want to
do that.
Either so that's why you're pro because you also Have
joe's back in a way where you're, LIKE i know he's.
Busy we will, talk.
Right but, like DO i deserve to have a conversation
one hundred percent, sure like especially based on like HOW
i show up every, day and that's on.
Who you are in the.
Game there's a status aspect of who you are in the,
game your, time your. Contract like as much as that
doesn't people say that should, matter it matters in the locker,
room and it matters to communication with well it which
Is i'm.
Not giving not given a, rookie, right but even you,
KNOW i mean you should get the rus Should i'm
just saying like there's a little bit more. Leeway Barbi,
cox did he no Doub, yeah which is surprising to.
Hear you, KNOW i don't remember not talking To joe, first,
Right i'm tied Up World. Series surprising here Because joe
is usually pretty good at communicating, overall so he must
have a lot of stuff going. On but the fact
that you were so pro about it says, everything because,
yeah we're in the First World. Series however many years
we're trying to win, one one hundred and eight years
not playing game. One really the first few games.
For, us it was, Like, okay we're excited For, cogling
right because we got him at the deadline and his
whole full circle moment he got traded because we Signed
decks and we were pumped for decks and Then coggan
gets shipped. Out but at the same time it's, like,
bro you're a, guy, Right so that was definitely hard
for us on our side to dealing.
WITH i think that's the hardest.
Part like looking back at some of the managing time
THAT i, had was, like, yeah like.
One those conversations are, worse but you have to have.
Them but, two it's like you get to this pinnacle
moment and my instinct and HOW i was brought, UP
i was, Like i'm riding with my, guys, Right you're
riding with who brought, you you, know dance with the
girls that brought.
You SO.
I, said, GIRLS i should probably say, girl right this
one girl.
Probably, yeah but, yeah you're here your.
Daughters BUT i, mean, yeah, okay that's what it.
Is AND i just, mean you, know you have that
a little bit of like that or you're, like now
it's like everybody just playing the hot hand and they're
a little bit of.
That and it is a lot to juggle juggle from From.
Joe but you get in there, four five and six
and seven and the boy the boys come.
THROUGH i remember what it was the game for you two, hits, right,
yeah Which. OBER i remember being fucking pumped because when
you got in it was like because, heart, yeah, right
like want your guys that have success and THAT i
want To cogglin to have success. Too but you played
one hundred and forty plus that, year right got you
are right, fielder, right so as.
A, Catcher i'm, Like i'm gonna Need i'm gonna need
the stallion out and right you know it's got five gold.
GLOVES i need that dude out there because, well your. Impact,
also like we can look at numbers and all the,
time but we, know, uh the intangibles that help a
winning environment and always just offensive.
Numbers, YEAH i think too looking back is like you,
said maybe a rookie doesn't deserve, It but me, now
looking back on my whole, CAREER i think every baseball
player deserves the upmost the highest level of communication because
it's such a mental game that you're playing and if
you're not getting communicated with and as you get, older
it's a lot. Easier again this is not about, me
BUT i hit third every day AND i was playing first,
base third or, fourth SO i never knew what communication
looked like because IF i had a rare off, day
they come and talk to.
Me. Well decks even talked about.
That joe gave, hit called him in and talked about, like,
hey you're leading off every.
Day, yea then it. Yeh let him let his guard.
Down but guys that aren't and like you Take Matt
caesar or or Ol more on our, teams, Right Coglin
kawasaki not so much, cost but guys that are playing
that think they should be playing a little bit more,
Right and then if they play and they don't get
hits and then they're not talked to, Them i'm not
going to play the next day and send down to
where that communication is so.
Key so you're, RIGHT i MEAN i tried to you
try to communicate with.
EVERYBODY i.
REALIZED i think one of the things we did well
in sixteen was the young guys that were. There we,
like we didn't we didn't raz anybody LIKE kb you
know it all it was all fun, Love AND i
think that's the best. Way the best Teams i've been
on don't hate on the. Rookies they kind of like
give them a hard. Time you get some some hazing type,
stuff but, like for the most, part you need everybody
to feel.
Well we were all so similar in A i think
our infield at the, time because we were twenty six
going into that. Season i'm a year older Than, jay
SO i used to he has a lot more service
time than, me time time.
Out he's a day a day.
Older, SORRY i mean big, different big.
Difference one.
Day he has probably seven more years of peopleague service.
Time BUT i used to always tell, hey, man respect your, elders.
Always how much time do you? Have it was like,
Fifteen he's, like, DANG i should have played another. YEAR
i love that by having anything over.
Him when we go down three to, one do you
really think that we can come back deep?
There? Why why?
NOT i MEAN i thought the same, Thing but, bro,
like what was your? FEELING i like to hearing everyone's, take.
Because when we have our group on the, field all,
right we took care of. Business we have fun doing. It, Like,
bro we, Win we're, like all, RIGHT i know we.
Celebrated we didn't take any win for, Granted BUT i was,
like all, right, bro what are we doing?
Later if we?
Lost all, right the fuck are we doing? Later we
got a game.
Tomorrow, yeah that's what makes game seven game seven, obviously?
Right but, No, bro LIKE i knew we had a
chance to, win AND i always remember after game four we. Lose,
here everybody's in their chairs in the locker. Room rossie's
about to walk towards the. Bathroom he's, like, hey, man
like like we won three games in a row before
fuck and that was. It and everybody's, like, yeah brought that.
Up let's, go, yeah let's, Go, yeah we've done. That,
yeah well that was A i.
DO i told this With, zobris but LIKE, I i
remember THINKING i didn't get to play games three and.
Four this is what happens to your selfish, player.
Is about, me think about, me AND i couldn't.
WAIT i knew my final game was, coming you, know
and kind of was in the back of my, mind
BUT i wanted to start A World series game At
ryman feel like who wouldn't you know WHAT i? Mean
and you, KNOW i was just thinking to.
Myself, like you, know anybody would give their freaking left
arm to be playing A World series game At Raby,
Field like don't don't ruin my day. Tomorrow you, know
cats a big left hand and here comes. Daddy but,
YEAH i got that From. Pedroia he used to talk like.
That but it Is it was a moment THAT I
i'm GLAD i said that sometimes we save those things
and so reminded me of. That it's, like, yeah, man
LIKE i remember what made me think about saying. This
somebody through their glove and the in a log or.
Something BUT i was, me was, like, bro, like forget.
It let's let's let's go. Tomorrow tomorrow's game five here At,
wrigley this place canna be rocking.
Again let's go get. It you, KNOW i think one
of the coolest.
THINGS i don't know if you knew, THIS i didn't
know because we didn't have kids at the. Time after
we Won game, Five, joe we stayed back right so
all the families can treating because it Was. Halloween and
if you know, that, YEAH i. Remember all the guys
with kids really appreciated. That and that's again the human
element That, joe in my, opinion was so good, at
was letting us be dad's, first or family people, first
and then we play.
Baseball, yeah we go to work after you take care
of the.
FAMILY i remember WE i went over To dempster's house
and he was all dressed up As Willie.
Wonka AND i wore my swore bird sweatshirt that.
HEAD i was like A schwarber, fan and the kids
dressed up and we walked around people coming out of
our houses like so pumped and thankful like.
That that was.
Good joe was so good about you, know making. It
we'll plan the work schedule in the flight around our.
Family that Was that was.
Awesome that was.
Unique speaking Of, shore how cool is that when he
came back with a white series.
Nice like it's it's, storable like obviously all all of the, Storybook,
like no way in the world THAT i think this
dude's going to be able to play again that. SEASON
i saw him be here and get announced on an opening,
day coming out on, Crutches like we know the we
know how much it, matters we know what kind of
threat he is in the. Box but there's no way
in the WORD i thought he was gonna be able to.
Play and then they're, like, nah he's GONNA pj From Fall,
league the Fal.
League to The World. Series i'm, saying, like who does?
That nobody?
Start nobody start right, away And i'm knock.
RIGHT i hadn't seen pitches since freaking what Into March
april Bro april, whatever that.
Was but then also has to deal with the fact,
that like the game's, here there's NO d, eight so
he's not gonna, play you know What i'm, Saying like
all that stuff combined with, Like, Okay i'm gonna play,
Here i'm gonna get my. Chance you're talking about hoping
you get another. Chance he's hoping he gets another. Chance,
Right so like those three games here he didn't get to,
play but like like the stuff he went through to
be able to do, That i'm.
Believe, Yeah game, Seven game, seven we've got to we
Dominate game six and bro just the. Legendary you got
to walk me. Through all, Right we're we're, Winning, rajer
it's a home. Run we're all, Depressed like when is
this famous? Speech when is it coming to? YOU i
want you to walk me through your thoughts because you're
a guy that rarely speaks up unless you really have
something powerful to, say which is like a great leadership
quality about. You you're all about the. Boys you're never
dictating what everybody. Does but when you see something, wrong
you call guys, out or if you see something that.
Needs to be, said you'll say it in the best way.
Possible how did that before you start coming around and going,
HEY ROSSI i want everybody in the weight, Room flake
to walk me through.
Your thoughts and.
Emotions After rajer hits that home run and you feel
like we need a, Reset riz calls us ghosts in the.
Dugout he, says.
We were, Walking, zo we were. Ghosts everyone's white as a, ghost.
BRO i believe.
It we've got the winds our sales knocked out of our.
Wind our wind knocked.
Out of our. Sales there it. Is that's. It i'm
only high school.
EDUCATED i love that same.
HERE i went to college.
Again LIKE i knew we were gonna win, always BUT
i also Knew i'm watching the right field the WAY
i played. DEFENSE i pay attention to our, pictures pay
attention to hitters champion through fifty five pitches in game, five,
yeah oh, yeah with two at bats as a closer
coming from The American.
League and then we get.
The game six with two bats in game, five.
Fifty five PITCHES.
I, remember, yeah it was he went like two and
a third or.
Something.
Yeah so we go back there for game, Six we
go up, Big we do our. THING i think that's the.
Game addie Goes Grand slam, right youngest to do it late.
Home run to put this put us up big right
right bottom of the eighth or top of the.
Night, uh top of, night top of the eighth of the.
Eight, okay, SORRY i think even after your, homer who's
coming in the, Game.
Chappie, yeah you know he.
Was already in the game, already so we WERE i
remember it should have got him. Out joe was talked
about that should have got him out maybe a little.
Earlier, Bro but like he comes in the, game AND
i think all of us are on the same, page
like wait a, minute like why champion right?
Now?
Yeah we need him for the mom.
Eat him for. Tomorrow and he threw fifty five pitches
his last, outing and.
We had ridden him, hard hard the whole second half.
And then in the playoffs and then in the baseball,
Scence i'm, like, Look chappy through the four seamer through the, slot,
okay like two. Pitches obviously the heater plays and then
the slider helps off of, that but they're getting another
free look at. Him and that's WHAT i didn't want
to have. Happened so on game, Seven i'm, like all,
right he's coming, In, like, bro they know everything he's
got AND i don't know how many bullets he's got.
Left look up at the scoreboard's.
Doing ninety eight ninety eight for a lot of, people
especially at that time in twenty. Sixteen Amazing chadpick can
touch one oh. Four yeah, Right and so he didn't
have the same bullets you're catching, him Which i'm not
sure how many times you guys got to work.
AGAIN i didn't work them. Much But i'm calling all.
Heaters that's. It and Because I'm i'm thinking nobody's hitting.
That we were talking about that on another. SHOWS i
think it called like twelve or fifteen meters in a.
Row wonder he went deep but, Idiots.
But, like but those are details right That i'm watching play.
Out i'm, like, man they hadn't worked. Together rossie's calling.
HEATER i know what you're. Thinking but ALSO i know
like they've seen.
Him, Yeah raj's choked.
Up that's WHAT i was gonna.
Say, bro he's choked up like that far on the,
bat he did everything he needed to, do had the A.
B i'm, LIKE i don't have a good. Feeling watch
him from right he hits the. Homer lebron's on the, screen.
On the.
Screen you know What i'm, Saying like like what and
then and like also, ironically like in the background is
like they're right the basketball arena and they won the.
World they won THE Nba.
Championship there from being down three to one year exactly
against the best record in the. Game So i'm, like
Is cleveland about to do it? Again, no they're not
going to do it. Again like we're still gonna win
this fucking, game but we're gonna need to chill out.
Reset do you think there was a? Curse never thought about,
it never never thought about the. CURSE i was, like
WHAT i didn't like was.
Right now because you guys weren't there long.
Enough but, yeah but you played in the city that
also conquered one one there, Too.
Boston but it DIDN'T i popped in my, head was
LIKE i couldn't shake the, like, SHIT i can't play
like this last thing in my mind was him going,
Deep like the last thing in my.
BRAIN i felt like it could happen just based on,
yeah yeah.
Looks people don't understand, how especially as a, hitter when
you get to, see especially in a playoff, series when
you get that, look whether you get a hit or.
Not it's you're.
Playing that kind of mouse game for the next. Time
he only has two. PITCHES i saw the. Slider, okay
trust THAT i saw a. Slider If i'm A i
cause the. Lefty, OKAY i saw a.
Slider this is my.
Fourth time facing in this. SERIES i know where that
slider needs to. Start sell. Out and you could tell
That raj was selling out.
Us Against kloeber three times.
Exactly baber was A klueber was an animal in those, playoffs,
Right AND.
I always thought that about our. Team the more we
face the, pitchers the better we.
Were and there's young, show, sure BUT na like after the,
Homer i'm Not, no we're going to go right back.
In we're going to school or right, away right, away
we're gonna do. It somebody's on. FIRST i freaking ground
to a fielder's. Choice i'm, like, NO i don't. Matter
like we're still scoring, somehow some. WAY i still. Second
they throw, AWAY i get the third, Base i'm on
third with one. Out holves up our CO nlcs M.
Vp i'm like, yeah like he's already taking the cutter
guy deep this game In, CLUBERG i was, Like shawl's
on The mountain cutters.
Are like right, here no, Ship we're gonna.
Score and then as the bat plays, Out i'm Like
sadla in my, Head i'm like Sand, La. Sandla i'm,
LIKE i wish you would like drop the ball or
something or make a, bath throw back to.
The, picture or like throw a cutter for, anything ready for.
Anything and it gets the three two right three two,
count And i'm still like, no like he's gonna get it.
Done And, jonesy our third base, coach walks by me
like kind of like head down, here, hey shrake the
squeak like, that AND i, said hold, ON i, said no,
job hob, up, yeah, Count and And i'm like jonting,
home what you go the? Squeak and for, everybody LIKE
i KNOW i have a mic, on but like just
so you, know like safety. Squeaks that was the play
put on from the, dugout very hard to pull, off
no matter. WHAT i hadn't seen the hobby bun a whole,
lot but like in this, situation big, moment that was
the call with two, strikes with two, strikes and so
he bunts it. Foul therefore you're out as a. Batter
and now there's two down And i'm, like.
All, right are we?
Doing, yeah, essentially what are we? Doing why Would hobby
why would the scenario like bro like let him swing
like he's gonna sucking at the.
Worst pop a ball to right.
Field i'm, scoring like we saw the outfield that, Series
like they kind of helped, us you, know stay in the,
series they help, us you, Know but it plays out that.
Way dex is coming up. Next i'm, No we're still
gonna get the ship done. SOMEHOW i Know dex likes
the ball coming into, him you. Know i'm, like, nah
we got a. Shot that's just a bullet up the,
middle freaking like maybe like one and a half. Hot i'm, like,
nah this is. It lindor coming across the damn base
catches it spin throwed, first got.
Him i'm, like all, right, yeah but end Up hobbies at.
Back before he makes the bun, attempt it already started
to rain a little, bit and Then dex ab it
started to rain, harder big ass cold rain drops or.
Whatever but puts the ball and. Play they make the,
play and we're coming. Off sky's opening. Up i'm, like,
nah like they're about to pull this. Shit they ain't
gonna let it Fucking they're not gonna let us like
ruin the rest of the.
Game AND.
I know the dugout is fucked right. NOW i know
for the first time all year, long everyone's not thinking
the way we usually. Think BUT i, think more, importantly
there's no game, tomorrow so there's no for me to be, like,
nah like let it play. Out let everybody kind of
deal with. Together we're going to come back strong or from.
It like there was none of that. Ship it was, like,
bro either you say something now you let we went.
Out we went back, out And chappie got us through the.
Nights that's what which, is which was a miracle in.
Itself but, like if we didn't get, together like we
don't at least get to have like our moment like
we always. Do like that was the biggest thing about our,
group was like we were able to dress shit with.
Ourselves but if we, didn't THEN i didn't trust the
moment going. Forward but that's When i'm leading up to,
That i'm, like, Hey, rossie like you're the ONE i wanted.
To tell held me in my. Area so they pull the.
Tard at what point are you, saying all, right it's
time you're thinking about this.
Coming across the.
Diamond like As i'm running off the, field, SORRY i
was trying to get, there.
But because we went out for a second long in the, no.
We didn't go out at.
All As i'm running off the field from third, Base
jonesy AND i, like they're tard SO i know the
range coming, Down LIKE i know they're going to pull.
It So i'm like right then in that moment As
i'm coming, Off i'm, like, no, no we got to.
Talk and THEN i go straight to. You, yeah And i'm, like,
hey like tell everybody weight? Room WOULD i tell? You
Because i'm also knowing like if it's a bad, idea you're, like,
nah jay fuck, That, like don sit your ass.
Down.
Bro you never come with bad ideas because you don't say.
Much and that's why you said. THAT i was, like oh, shit,
okay all, right perfect and then we all and we
all head down there and get in, there and, uh you,
know everybody's got a different. Version and THEN i go Get.
Chappie we come. Back he's. Crying we walked through. That
but Then you're, like, HEY i just want to get everybody.
Together, Yeah i'm, like real, quick won't take long weight.
ROOM i know it's right, there the closest point for
everybody to get. Together we wait for the bullpen to come,
in like you, said Like chappie was the last one
to come, in because, bro all the way of the,
world like literally the whole fucking, world the universe was
on him in that.
Moment he's.
Crying you, know he's in. TEARS i, Know i'm sure
a lot of guys have talked about, that but like he's,
crying like gives a. Fuck obviously he gives a. Fuck
this dude's thrown so much for, Us like we wrote.
Him he's who he. Is we wrote, him all, right,
honey you. Know and so we get in there And
i'm just, like, look this is not an. Excuse like
we won one hundred and three regular season. Games we
are the best team in the. League we're the best
team in the. Game we made it to this point
coming back down from three to one because manager made a,
mistake all, Right so what, like don't fucking matter every
other team in this fucking. GAME a manager makes a goddamn.
Mistake but, like that's not going to be our excuse
on why we don't go out there and finish this
game the way we, are, like this is, us this
is who we. Are, like let's do what the fuck
The cubbies. Do let's go play like we don't give
a fuck about who's going to win or, not and
let's see what.
Happens that's WHAT i. Remember there was so much going.
ON i just remember you talking about Playing we played
for one another all year with the best team in.
Baseball that was kind of like it was simple like.
THAT a couple of GUYS i think you said, something
a couple of guys that said some small stuff like
that was that was. Powerful and then the rain was
perfectly as dry as.
Quick, yes seventeen minutes tears of, joy, TEARS i don't
know what it, was but half to tears of joy.
Now But, bert WHAT i think you talk About joe,
right and we talked to him about this about maybe
he kept In chappie too, long maybe he PULLED hendrickx
a little too, early. Whatnot BUT i mean you were
in that driver's, seat you sat on that top step
making all those, decisions and it's not as easy as.
Us BUT i think that the beauty of that team
was we were able to speak like that, openly and
even If joe was in that room and we were, saying.
What the fuck are you?
Doing he would he would talk back to us like,
brothers and he'd walk through you know WHAT i, mean
and it wouldn't be anything, like, OH i don't like you.
Were it was so it was such a camaraderie to
all the coaching, staff even the front.
Office well everybody was. Empowered WHERE i WAS i.
WAS i was legitimately pissed off after we, won and
the media was trying to Blame joe for us winning
The World, series Like joe left him in too. Long i'm,
like what the what are you? Doing and yes we.
Did in that speech there was stuff said about like you,
know what the? Fuck but at the end of the,
day that was the team we had and that if
you didn't say, that and If jo didn't make those,
moves maybe you don't talk the way you speak or
or get us, together.
You know WHAT i.
Mean where let me tell you, So i've been lucky
enough to win two and Like John farrell was our
manager In, boston it's, like LIKE i don't know that
he almost stayed out of the way in those, moments
you know WHAT i mean like it's every manager is
a little bit, different and and you, know AND i have,
managed and it made plenty of. Mistakes and you know
WHAT i, Learned good players cover up your.
Mistakes and that's what we. Did all, Right you, guys
remember what you? Said do you remember what you?
Said remember in the?
SPEECH i MEAN i felt like it was around about that,
Now LIKE i don't remember, verbatim like right, there ten years, ago.
Probably because it's like when YOU i feel like when
you talk in big atmospheres like, that especially, adrenaline like you,
don't you, don't you're not a team meeting, guy it's
like you almost black out a little, bit.
Right, yeah every, yeah, yeah ESPECIALLY i.
DO i do remember a lot OF f, bombs, right,
BRO i JUST i remember the passion behind your voice
was just fuck, everyone, Right fuck the front, office fuck the,
coaches fuck the, media fuck the outside.
World, right we.
Are the, boys and everything about us kind of gave
us that monster reset Of and it was no disrespect
to any at, all to. Anyone it was just more of,
hey like you, said don't forget who the fuck.
We are and then everyone.
Leaving NOW i remember. THAT i appreciate that, because Like
that's that's what it.
Was that's the whole message behind.
It don't.
If you're gonna win and you're gonna go all, in
like that's the one thing you have to. Have it's, like,
bro like everybody's gonna do their, Job, like thanks for
putting this team, Together thanks for getting us the nice,
bus a, hotel what the fuck?
Ever?
Family thank you guys for being here and supporting. Us
but like right, now like we're the all the ones
that can affect it, Exactly we're all the ones that
can do something right.
HERE i try to put all that other negative shit
out of your. Brain, Okay i've always started to ask
this question WHILE i was talking about. This everybody leaves the,
meeting how do you feel like after After i've done
speeches and talks like to teams, WHATEVER i walk out
AND i was LIKE i shouldn't have said, THIS i
shouldn't have said, that or what like was there any
of like relief or like like Oh i'm GLAD i said,
that or just like, okay here we go moment LIKE
i always thought, about like after everybody walks out of
there and we start everybody started getting back in the,
routine was there any moments Like i'm so GLAD i did.
That i'm definitely GLAD i did. It, Yeah, no that
was that was a no.
Brainer jason Hamill hammer immediately after people started walking out
of the room and he's, like, Hey, jay like that's
gonna go down to history of this, speech, Right i'm, like,
wow wow's right right away he, said you know. That i'm,
Like i'm, like, Huh like what do you. Mean he's, like, not,
bro just he's, Like dad was fucking, Amazing, like, man
thank you for doing it, Whatever like that's going to
help us out a, Lot like you're gonna be always
be remembered for. It i'm my, thanks, BRO i appreciate.
It but like we're about to go fucking.
Win yeah like, that he said that though heard.
That that's WHY i wanted to bring.
Up we walked out of, there like it's totally. DIFFERENT i,
Remember i'm A i'm a big Little giants fan the
movie that halftime that coach As shay did right or
or whoever the coach, was and all the, boys all
the kids in the movie like one, time one, time
and they all fired up and they go with the second, half, Right.
This is what makes him great that's in.
Everything it's a.
Giant But, bro that literally because, look having the pulse
of the team THAT i THOUGHT i. Had you see
everyone in the ninth inning.
As white as a.
Ghost then the rain delay comes and we get together
and everyone has a second of, reset and then the
ultimate reset was what you. Said and then everyone walks
out of, like, yeah we can do, it, right but
we didn't have That yeah we can do it going into,
that we rage took that away from. Us so then
we go out and do, it and it was like.
Fuck.
Yeah you look back of the impact of, that of that,
speech of those seventeen minutes of Where, bro when we
went back To, cleveland YOU'RE i don't know if you remember,
this but every time we went, BACK i sat right.
THERE i sat on the treadmill the far left side.
Right coglan was sitting next to, Me this guy was,
here and every guy knew exactly where they were in
That it's like time. Stopped AND i don't think we
knew until after the fact of how big that moment.
Was yeah for.
SURE i mean because you even, like we play With
Kipness Jason kidnis and he, said, Yeah, bro we we
had a fucking speech.
Too, Right no one.
Talks about our, speech, right we all. Talked we all
got together because FINISH i finished second. Before no one
remembers the second place, finisher you know WHAT i. Mean
so looking back on, that the impact of one hundred
and eight years of, hope, misery all in between coming
down to a locker. ROOM a lot more obviously went into,
it but it was such a monumental moment In cubs.
History AND i know you know, that but it's just
incredible to talk about.
It i'm so thankful that you had the courage to do.
That that's that's WHAT i keep. Thinking all, right we
win the whole.
Thing last, out it's not About.
Riz but he got into the, ball puts in his back,
pocket and we're all, Celebrating like what's going through your
mind as a world champ for the first?
Time get to the.
PILE i GOTTA i gotta go a little bit before,
that LIKE i winded a little, bit like the fifteen
second button right where nobody had more confidence in that
last out than you AND kb because it's fucking wet
grass all this. Shit i'm watching him feel this dawn
round ball and he goes up to throw at. You
he's still, sliding, yeah like on one spike. Sliding i'm, like,
bro take your, time you got. Time, Yeah and then
he lets it go high and you're just like catching.
It Like i'm, Like i'm, like why is the putting
both hands up going to catch this? Ball he's like,
introde nobody had more. CONFIDENCE i was.
Terrified bro details a story to, it like he didn't
really want the last out ball.
Said he was, LIKE i was just thinking you always
think last to. Me he's, LIKE i, DON'T i.
Don't he was smiling.
Too he's, like you're, like, yeah where do you remember
the first thing you?
Did so.
Because you now feel you're far, away so far.
Away But, bro like when he threw the ball and
the balls about to hit your, glove it was radio.
SILENT i wish we could go back to that fucking
moment and like freezing and like and, Listen, bro nobody
was making a fucking, sound. Nobody and then you catch
it And i'm, like it's. Done it's fucking. Done AND
i was just, like, no like get to the. Pile
didn't know who the hug what to, do fucking like
throw some ship, up like go punch somebody, Whatever like
it was just like everything going on in. Motion BUT
i always, remember like what it smelled like in the
dugout and that last in like When chappie went, out you,
know close out the. Ninth we come back and we,
score we go up at the, time what was it
eight six at the time before we go back on the,
Field i'm, like, bro it smells like a fucking bar in.
Here it smells LIKE i smell, beer, liquors, cigarettes.
Like it's probably every starting picture And Risen day.
Students you know What i'm. Saying, like but like that
was the. Smell But i'm, like, nah but like this
is just who we are and how we dealt and
we're about to go fucking win The World, series.
All right, again it's not about. Me BUT i got
carried off the. Field you.
Too i've asked him and he, said just took me
nice things about. ME i don't need all, That but like,
WHAT i don't know how the whole thing. Transpired did
you go over to? Him did he go over to?
You like what?
HAPPENED i believe you came to me and asked me
to help. You And i'm, like, yeah no, Shit but, like,
bro the same reason for the like the cup. Bump i'm, like,
bro this could potentially be your life of your. Life
this Is game. Seven everything did it means off Of Andrew, miller,
nasty nasty, reliever nasty, closer you, go dad, center coming
off the, bench all the things that are so hard
to do about.
It i'm a no cup. Bump but after the, game,
bro you can't carry it?
All that was? COOL i GOT i bet it's just, like, well.
He just meant so much for me in the two
years we played. TOGETHER i know how much he meant
to you being a professional so and the whole rally
Around Grandpa rossi and just the whole, year how it
progressed for, you, right was almost such a good side
story for us to pour in more to someone. Else
and when you're gonna climb the top of, everes you
need to be crazy enough to think you can do,
it and you need to have the side stories of
what you look forward.
To SO i get that, picture AND i see you
too all the, time just your, faces Because i've got
that hang in my house what you guys. Did and
it's like that photo and you guys are just like
got me. On SO i just always think about you.
Guys i'm like all the, time looking, like how did
that go?
Down did you did you think that on the? Parade
we're on the same we're on the same bus me,
you DAX, kb did you, think, hey what did you
think of the? Parade obviously five plus million? Insane but
did after that initial of us winning and seeing all
the fans and the w flags and people, think did
you think it was gonna be that?
Big, honestly, NO i.
DIDN'T i didn't know what to. Think but, like, no
because it never, ended, Bro it never.
Really like ten years, later it still hasn't.
Ended It it never. Ended but like the amount of people
that you could see never. Ended like you look. Down
you start once we got The michigan abb you start
looking down these side streets and you're like hello, People hello,
People hello. People we stop a, bit show the, trophy
this and, that like ridiculous amount of. People and then
once we get off the, buses then we get on the,
stage then you throw the.
Backdrop Grant.
Millennium i'm just, like, bro like this is it felt
like the world was here right. NOW i don't know
how these people got, here but they figured out a.
Way to get.
Here obviously it went seven, games so they had an
idea like if they get it, done but like that
many people believe then you know this was gonna be
the time and they were there for us and Go,
cubs go on the stage all, that like you getting
to like address, everybody have the, ball like all these
are all THINGS i, remember but like super super super
cool to take in and be.
There it's, awesome.
Amazing all, right looking, back you got to play out
your career win Another World series like? This what would
you what?
Advice now you're you're you've just got employed by The,
dodgers right working with young? Kids what are you telling
the Young Jason hayward looking? Back what are you telling
the young guys that are that you're.
Speaking to when you know you talk to like you've
got your great foundation.
Here The Academy Academy Baseball. Gademy oh, yeah, dude that
thing IS i, mean, well you talk about, legacy you
know WHAT i, mean that's gonna be there for a long,
time hopefully forever.
And impacting young young players the game in, sports AND
i know that's like near and dear to your.
Heart so, yeah what are you telling a Young Jason.
Hayward right, Now i'm.
Going to tell, him, listen, man continue to be, respectful
continue to work, hard have, fun but trust your. Ship
trust your ship and take care of you and a
lot of people will benefit from.
That, wow playing it so.
Well i'm glad you.
Did.
Man i'm so.
Thankful first of, all like being back in this environment
here In chicago with you two is like At, marquis,
so you, know really cool for. Us thanks To marquis
for putting this on on you, know the channel and
assault in the bar, yesterday walked around.
Was, like look at. Me it's cool back on.
There it's just like nice to To it's good vibes
around here with you, guys AND i need that around.
Here so it's like really really fun for. Me thanks
for To colin and all The marquis people and the PEOPLE.
I would say congrats on your second The World, series
but you guys fucked.
Us it's.
OKAY i appreciate it all about.
Him you, know everything's fine two. Times look where it's taking.
You two Time World series, champion two Time World series,
champion and be. Love that's the level of reunion. Podcast,
Jay thank, You. BRO i can't wait for the reunion.
Weekend thank you For thank you.
Guys let's let's a wrap up good one that was
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