Cardinal Territory: Ryan Helsley talks free agency and time in STL

00:00:06
Speaker 1: Hello everybody, and welcome to a brand spank and new edition of Cardinal Territory. Met Holiday and Lancelin are out doing what wealthy folks doing their free time. But I'm here. I'm Jim Hayes. Kyle Gibson is here and we have a special guest, Ryan Helsley, joins Cardinal Territory today.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: Hello, Ryan, what's up?

00:00:30
Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on, and yeah, welcome. My first question is this, It's great to see you. By the way, you set records as the closer with the Cardinals, right, and you go to New York Trade and you're the setup guy and suddenly the role that you've flourished and set the franchise record for saves is changed. So my question is how much of an impact did that have on what happened in New York.

00:01:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, obviously, you know I got traded in New York. Going into it, I knew I was wasn't gonna be the closer. You know, they have a guy there who's been pretty stinking good his whole career too, and you know, has a lot of talent and had a great year, and so I knew I was gonna kind of be a guy in that sixth seventh eighth inning slot. And you know, had a great conversation with Mindy when I got there and the coaching staff, and you know, so I know my role was there's a little bit of adjustment, you know, figuring out your new you know, time slots to get ready and things like that.

00:01:34
Speaker 4: But uh, you know, overall, I felt I felt great.

00:01:36
Speaker 3: There, and you know, the coach staff was great, and you know, my time there was good. As a player, you know, I could have done some things a little better, but uh, you know, I enjoyed my time there with the coaching staff and the players.

00:01:50
Speaker 5: Hell's getting traded in the middle of the season, did it?

00:01:54
Speaker 6: Twenty one?

00:01:56
Speaker 5: Traded to a contender, right, you know, traded to Philly. We're trying to make the playoffs. And I know the tough thing for me was I had a couple of stars where I threw well, really down the stretch. I didn't throw how I wanted to throw. And it's frustrating, Right, you get brought to a team and you're this guy that's hopefully going to make a difference. How'd that wear on you? How'd you deal with it? And I know the guys are greater that I'm sure. I know Jeremy Helfner, he's a stud. But you know, how is overall that transition to a new team, because I know, you know, in our conversations in twenty four, you know, I think we were hoping that Ryan Helsey was a Cardinals whole career, right, So you know, how how was that transition and and you know how is that time with Heffner and those guys.

00:02:39
Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I for sure wanted to be a Cardinal the whole time I was there. That's all I ever knew, you know, I was there are parts of eleven years, you know, seven years in the big leagues and four years in the minor leagues.

00:02:48
Speaker 4: And.

00:02:50
Speaker 3: You know, there's I've had a lot of trade talks about my career there, and you know where we were currently at before the trade downline, you know, just felt that that's what the Cardinals were going to do. So I think I saw the riding on the wall, you know, like it wasn't a total shop and I got traded.

00:03:04
Speaker 4: So I think that helped.

00:03:05
Speaker 3: But you know, being there in New York, the guys there, you know, I had a lot of fun.

00:03:10
Speaker 4: And like you said, trying to you know, make a difference.

00:03:12
Speaker 3: You know, I don't know that I put any more pressure on myself, but I definitely expected a lot more of myself, you know while I was there, and you know, felt felt good. You know, I was healthy. Just obviously the results were bad. You know, started out good and had a tough four to five weeks stretch there and end of the year pretty well. But yeah, it's just it's just a weird feeling being on such a good team, you know, and you're making a push, and you know, that's probably the most talent I've I've had on a team. You know, talked to bottom, especially in a bullpen. You know, I was I was the youngest guy in the bullpen, which is crazy to say. I'd never seen it. You know, I was really thirty thirty one years old, and I think I was the youngest guy in the bullpen. So we had a super vet bullpen, you know, guys that pitched the World Series and all this and that. So that was cool to learn from those guys. And you know, see baseball through a different lens. And you know, such a big market in New York, and I mean the fans are great, you know, they're super dedicated they're probably a lot like Philly fans as you know, you've you've experienced that, you know n L East rivalry and the crowds there, and.

00:04:11
Speaker 4: You know it'll be it'll be exciting to see what they do this year.

00:04:14
Speaker 3: And but overall, you know, I really enjoyed my time there huge.

00:04:20
Speaker 5: Well, Jim, Jim, you told me I'm asking questions today, all right, you know.

00:04:24
Speaker 2: We're going back and forth.

00:04:27
Speaker 5: Oh, okay, go ahead, Jim, Yeah you're fine. No, you go, you go go, uh the real quick and then I'll let Jim ask a question. Tell me about the different What do you like about New York? I mean, obviously you've been there multiple times, but you know, how do you how did you get acclimated?

00:04:44
Speaker 6: What do you and the family do you know?

00:04:47
Speaker 5: I'm I'm a big fan of a pizza place over there in Brooklyn that's a little bit closer to Queens. But tell me, tell me what you guys did and how'd you like that?

00:04:56
Speaker 3: Yeah, we didn't ever get to make it over there. I really tried, but traffic in New York a different beast. And you know, we only had a couple off days while I was there, and I think we only had like one off day.

00:05:05
Speaker 4: While we were at home.

00:05:08
Speaker 3: But yeah, the traffic in New York is definitely makes you think twice about your plans every day, you know.

00:05:14
Speaker 6: Especially on an off day.

00:05:15
Speaker 3: You're like, I'm gonna spend half my day trying to get here and get there. And you know, we lived out on Long Island near Garden City and it wasn't too bad. It was definitely different, you know, a lot different than Saint Louis. And you know, I think overall that, you know, if we were to be able to pick a place to live, you know, for a full season, you know, getting traded during the middle year and trying to find a place to live is just so hectic and it's really hard when you have a family and you got to I mean you've experienced like you got to move everything, and you know, it's just there's so many things that people don't think about that you have to deal with, and.

00:05:49
Speaker 4: You know, it's it was just a hectic time. But I really enjoyed it there.

00:05:52
Speaker 3: And you know, we had an off day there and we took the family out to Central Park and got to do some you know, bluey stuff for the daughters, and I think my oldest daughter. She got to go to Danny go. She got to watch him in concert. You know, I think they skipped the game one day game went and watched Danny go downtown in Manhattan.

00:06:10
Speaker 4: So my daughter loved the city. You know.

00:06:12
Speaker 3: She every time she would see the skyline, she's like, we're going to the city.

00:06:16
Speaker 4: So she she had a blast.

00:06:17
Speaker 3: And you know, overall, I think our experience is pretty good.

00:06:20
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:06:21
Speaker 2: No, I have a two part question. I say two to let.

00:06:27
Speaker 6: It's two questions. Okay, that's about right.

00:06:31
Speaker 1: Yle Kyle Gibson as a teammate, was he as bossy as he is as a member of this podcast.

00:06:38
Speaker 3: Teammate No Give You was one of my I think favorite teammates of all time. And me and Kyle on the road once we got to know each other a little more because obviously we only played together for one year. But you know, every day on the road, unless one of us slept in, we'd go get coffee together, we'd walk around whatever city we were in. So those will be memories that I always hold on to. And you know, something I tried to carry over you know, this year, and because it's fun, you know, spending time with your teammates and getting to know them, and you know, you spend way more time with them than you do with your families throughout the course of the years, So just trying to build that bond, and you know, Gibby's going to be up on my list for a long time.

00:07:16
Speaker 1: Now, I'm going to stipulate that you guys are both pitchers, and I'm a mediocre broadcaster that really doesn't understand the nuances of this.

00:07:24
Speaker 2: So help me with this if you would.

00:07:26
Speaker 1: Ryan, Okay, I know from interviewing guys like Izzy over the years that being a closer, there's a certain mental preparation. There is a certain mentality that you have to have. So my question to you is, I know you, and I know you want to say all the right things, but how much of a mental change did you have to make going from the guy at the end of the game, the guy who's going to get the ball to put the win in the win column, and then transition that to being a setup guy where you're not exactly sure you know when you're coming in.

00:08:04
Speaker 2: How much of a mental change did you have to make?

00:08:07
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's definitely a lot different, you know, like you're so as a closer. Kind of weird to say, but throughout the season you're so routine oriented. You know, you have everything you do inning by inning, you know, you start doing Like for me, I would go to the training room as soon as the game started, and innings one through four, I was doing all my prep in there and try to get to the bullpen by the fifth inning, you know, sit there for one inning. Sixth inning, I'm starting my stretch routine with the thera gun. Seventh inning, I'm doing movements, you know. Eighth inning, I'm doing my band. So like you have your so regimen as a closer, and I think that helps you kind of get locked in and keep your focus, you know, because as a closer, you know your role is really defined, and you know, I'm either throwing if the game's tied or for up by three, you know, maybe four if I haven't pitched in a few days. But as a setup guy, it's like, you know, I could throw the fifth or sixth. I might get hot twice today and maybe we go up by five or sixth.

00:09:03
Speaker 4: And the ninth and now I have the ninth, you know.

00:09:05
Speaker 3: So it's definitely a lot different and there's a lot more you know, peaks and valleys out there.

00:09:09
Speaker 4: I think as a setup guy. And you know, with my time.

00:09:12
Speaker 3: In New York, it not that I forgot what a setup guy was like, but it made me have more of an appreciation for what those guys do day in and day out and kind of what they deal with on a daily basis. And you know, just constantly having to stay ready and you know, be ready for when the phone rings.

00:09:29
Speaker 4: But I think, you know.

00:09:31
Speaker 3: That's also a fun part of it, is kind of always living life on the edge. You know, you're just you know, sitting there itching ready for a moment's notice and you hear your name, you know, and you shoot up. And but it's definitely it's definitely a lot different going from that closure role to you know, being a guy that could throw from innings five through nine.

00:09:49
Speaker 5: You know, all right, so Jim's gonna ask all the baseball questions, you know, just typically guy here trying to get baseball inside. What the that's perfect great timing. What's the coffee you got this morning? What's your coffee spot? You're on the West coast right now, you know, where'd you go this morning? Because like how said, you know, we we did a lot of coffee runs in the morning, kind of getting our day started. And definitely some of my favorite times in my career from twenty twenty four was was doing that and finding those coffee shops. So where'd you go this morning? And what's getting ready for this golf match?

00:10:22
Speaker 3: So this is called a place called Fairgrounds. It's up here in Beverly Hills. It's pretty good. I think it's more of I don't really know like my roast yet. It tastes a little darker. I just know if I like it, if it tastes good, you know, it's a solid I'll give it like an eight out of ten. Not my favorite, but it's getting the job done, you know. And I'm thinking, what the I was thinking? What the quad shot here? Gibby got me on that you talk about used to be a flavored guy, you know, get some vanilla surf from there. But you know, I grew up a little bit and leaned myself off all the flavorings and sugars, So enjoying the coffee flavor a little bit.

00:10:59
Speaker 6: You know, it does happen everybody.

00:11:01
Speaker 5: Everybody grows up at some point else and then you start, you know, drinking your straight gasoline in the morning.

00:11:07
Speaker 6: So that's good fair ground. That's a unique name. I like that.

00:11:10
Speaker 4: I like that.

00:11:11
Speaker 5: And what was so in your time in New York? You know, we went to a couple but we were in uh, you know, we were more.

00:11:16
Speaker 6: In the city.

00:11:17
Speaker 5: What are those spots that you found where you guys lived, Did you find a good one?

00:11:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, we would go to play I think it was go with the place we went to common grounds.

00:11:27
Speaker 6: Or common grounds.

00:11:29
Speaker 5: Yeah, there's the one pup of black Fox as well in New York then too.

00:11:33
Speaker 4: Yeah, we went to the common grounds. It was south of Garden City.

00:11:37
Speaker 2: Cool.

00:11:37
Speaker 3: So every every morning we do that and go find a playground, you know, for the girls to play on and just get out of the house and spend.

00:11:43
Speaker 4: Some family time together.

00:11:44
Speaker 3: But you know, when I got to New York, I think my caffeine then take like Triple Dude.

00:11:48
Speaker 4: They had they.

00:11:49
Speaker 3: Hadn't They had the law Marzaco. You've seen that brand, right, like all the coffee brands, the Italian brands. So they had the really nice like home set ups in the weight room and.

00:12:03
Speaker 4: They traveled with one on the road.

00:12:05
Speaker 3: So it was like you just had the best coffee at your fingertips all day long, So like, how could you not just ingest a thousand milligrams of coffee, you know, every single day, So I was especially caffeinated my time in New York.

00:12:19
Speaker 1: You are watching Coffee Talk on this edition of Cardinal Territory, And since I have control, I'm going to fire out a quick question here, Ryan, you're a free agent. Now, what's that process like for you? Like, how does that work? Does your agent like give you updates that you're getting a nibble here? How does that work? And what's it been like for you?

00:12:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty pretty surreal to be here, you know, I know it's a blessing and not a whole lot of players get to experience free agency, you know. So I'm definitely excited and you know, thankful, and you know, my agent will text me, you know, every other day, maybe because I think the GM meetings are going on right now.

00:12:58
Speaker 4: So talks and stuff have picked up a little.

00:13:00
Speaker 3: Bit, and you know, I like to I've called it windows shopping so far. You know, it's like, you know, teams will say they like you, and but there's no there's hasn't been you know, real numbers talk or anything like that. Yet, which you know, I think that'll obviously pick up, you know, as the off season goes on. And but overall, it's it's pretty cool, you know, it's it's a it's crazy to be here in this moment, you know, to be here seven years down the road and you know, have an opportunity to you know, hopefully have an opportunity to pick pick where you play, and you know, have multiple options.

00:13:32
Speaker 2: What uh.

00:13:34
Speaker 5: You know one thing that Brian Doser told me kind of going into my last year in Minnesota, he had just become a free agent. He's like, Gibby, don't be afraid of free agency, like, you know, enjoy the process.

00:13:44
Speaker 6: Take it in.

00:13:45
Speaker 5: I was fortunate to go through it a few times. How how are you and the family dealing with it? You know, what are those conversations? You don't have to let us in on all of it, obviously, but you know, it is an exciting time. But I mean, I know, especially for me last year, a little bit you know set in as time went on and I didn't have a job. It's like, man, all right, maybe this is maybe this is it now. Obviously you're not going to be in that situation, but you know, are you guys kind of just waiting on a little bit of you know, what are these opportunities or or do you guys kind of have you know, those talks of man, we'd really like to be here with that group.

00:14:19
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's natural to want to be somewhere, but I also think, you know, for me, I'm trying to go into it as open minded and like willing to play anywhere, you know, so you're not like, you know, just harden to if you don't go to the place you want to go to, so to say. So really just going into as an open mind, you know. And it's an exciting time, and you know, a lot of a lot of teams that are looking for back end guys or bigger market teams. So you know, I think a lot of that stuff is exciting and appealing to my my wife and daughter who loved the Big Apple City she called it in New York. So selfically, you know, I'd love to stay close to home, you know, like Texas, maybe Reunion with the Cardinals, you know, Kansas City, just because I have a lot of family members who like to travel.

00:15:05
Speaker 4: And obviously the further.

00:15:06
Speaker 3: You are away from Oklahoma, it's a little harder to travel and a little more expensive than driving. So but obviously I'm open to plane, you know, anywhere, and you know, I just want to compete.

00:15:17
Speaker 1: Are you Are you hoping that the Cardinals come and call him? By the way, the kids say, they call it getting the bag, So wherever you end up, you're getting the bag.

00:15:26
Speaker 2: But are you hopeful?

00:15:29
Speaker 4: Jim?

00:15:30
Speaker 5: I apologize he does this to Lance and Matt and sometimes me more of those guys because they have a bigger bag than I have, So I mean they he does this to everybody every show. So I apologize that he does this, all right, go ahead.

00:15:43
Speaker 1: Because because I'm because I'm I'm I'm jealous. But is that is that in your mind a uh a reab possible reality that the Cardinals start, as you say, windows shopping, maybe kicking the tires on a return.

00:15:59
Speaker 3: I think I expect them to reach out, you know, I think I don't know if it'll be you know, serious, but maybe to check in and you know, kind of gauge the waters, so to speak. And you know, I had a good talk with him after I was I was traded, and you know, it was really encouraging the possibly maybe you know, coming back there, and you know, obviously things changed. That was three months ago, but you know, you know, I really enjoyed my time getting to know how m a little bit and think that the Cardinals future is in really good hands with him.

00:16:30
Speaker 5: So let's let's dive into some of that Cardinals time, right, you know, this is Cardinals territory, so I guess you know, Jim probably wouldn't be too happy if we don't bring up the Cardinals other than possibly coming back. But you know, what were some of those moments with the Cardinals of standout? I mean you, like you said, seven seasons, sub three all Stars, I mean just just you accomplished just about everything, right, So you know, tell us about that time in Saint Louis. What are you gonna remember most if you know, for any reason, you know that reunion doesn't happen at some point.

00:17:01
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think obviously, you know, my rookie year stands out. You know, obviously it's everything's so new that year, and you know, we made it to the NLCS, so we you know, made a deep playoff run. Obviously we got swept by the Nats, but you know, we made the playoffs my first four years, and it's.

00:17:16
Speaker 4: Kind of crazy as to play.

00:17:17
Speaker 3: You kind of take that for granted sometimes then when you don't make it a couple of times, you realize how hard it really is to make the postseason, even with so many teams getting in. Now, you know, the league is just so competitive, and you know, I think the talent gap is probably the smallest it's ever been, and it's just you know, things like that, you know, make the game fun and making the playoffs is just a surreal feeling. And you know, obviously, I think twenty two stands out was the first year I really kind of stepped onto the scene and you know, pitched hot wanted too and kind of became you know, Ryan Helsley to the baseball world, and you know, through immaculate inning that year, I got to play with Albert Yachti and Wino, So that season is always super special. And you know, we come to the NL Central that year, and you know, one of my favorite pictures is when we clinched in Milwaukee with Wayne O, Yachty and Hour. You know, just kind of the pillars of Cardinals baseball the last twenty plus years. And you know, guys, I grew up watching so that you know, I felt like a kid in that moment, just to you know, and a fan, you know, being a part of that team and you know, just getting to sit there and you know, just kind of cherish that and take it all in.

00:18:19
Speaker 4: And then you know, the longer you get to.

00:18:21
Speaker 3: Play, you know, it's like you don't want to admit that you're getting older, that old guy in the locker room, you know. But like it's like every time you show up the spring, it's like in twenty three, like Dang Yachty's not here, Alburt's not here, you know, and then twenty four, Wayno's not here. So it was it's pretty crazy, and also the blessing obviously the longer you play, but in twenty four is obviously really special too, just you know, getting to pitch all year and having forty nine saves and just being a part of, you know, such a storied franchise with so many good players, and you know, there's there's a lot in there to to really take in and you know, to hold on.

00:18:58
Speaker 1: To Ryan by the way, great guy. I'm going to tell you a little story. So I'm doing the postgame interview for Hellsley. He gets to say it was like save fourteen that season, and he's holding onto the ball and I'm thinking maybe it has some significance. So I just said, hey, does Eppel have some significance? He goes, no, I'm just holding it.

00:19:16
Speaker 2: He goes, do you want to give it to your son?

00:19:18
Speaker 1: So my son has saved fourteen one season for Ryan Helsley Ran. I want to ask you, like, when you got traded, right, the Cardinals put stock on a lot of the young guys in the bullpen. You know them very well, guys like Swanson, Leahey, you know O'Brien really really good of course, Jojo. I want to ask you particularly about like Swaonson who became dominant. Did you know that these guys were ready to take the next step back when you were part of the team.

00:19:48
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:19:48
Speaker 3: So I met Swanson in twenty three when I was rehabbing in Springfield and he'd just gotten traded over from I believe the Blue Jays, you know, and I knew I saw him then. He was a big kid and kind of funky, you know, and you know, kind of a steep approach. It seemed like with the heavy sinker and you know, he obviously threw hard and he had a great year last year in Double A. You know, I think he led the league and with saves, with that, and you know, the stuff was there he saw as soon as he came up, you know, throwing ninety seven ninety eight and with two really good Auste pitches, and you know, he attacked his own well all the things you need to do as a bullpen guy. And you know, just the way he carries himself. You know, he kind of had the idea that this guy could you know, be a contributor. And you know, I think they saw that down the stretch this year.

00:20:27
Speaker 4: And you know, I was always a.

00:20:29
Speaker 3: Big believer in in Riley O'Brien, you know, seeing him last year too. I know in twenty four he didn't pitch how he wanted to, but you know I'd always tell the coaching staff like, this guy's.

00:20:37
Speaker 4: Gonna be good, you know, just give him some time.

00:20:39
Speaker 3: And you know, you see it with all players, you know, not everybody makes that leap or figures it out, you know, as fast as they want to or as quick as everybody thinks they should. But you know, I think he figured it out a little bit this year, and you know, saw what he was capable of, and you know.

00:20:52
Speaker 4: JoJo's had a great year.

00:20:54
Speaker 3: We know what he's capable of, and you know, I think it was cool to watch Kyle really flourished this year. And you know, I don't think he gets enough credit for what he really did with how many different roles and situations he pitched in and played. And you know, like I said earlier, it's hard not knowing when you're going to throw. And he would throw one any one night, you know, up in the eighth by one, or throw four the next day down by seven. You know, so just having that wide range and to be able to pitch and compete and get the results that he did this year, you know, it hats off to him, and I think it's something he could be proud of and you know, build off of.

00:21:26
Speaker 5: So we've talked a few times on here over the last couple of weeks just about you know, what the Cardinals might do and what that looks like in him's first year. But you know, one thing that I brought up is preventing runs is always less expensive than scoring runs, right, so in a bullpen can be a big part of that. And you know in twenty twenty four that bullpen that we had was one of the main reasons, if not the reason, that we were in playoff contention for so long. So in that bullpen that they see that they have now, you know, with your we'll just assume you're not there. You know, who's that guy that kind of steps up as that veteran leadership because I feel like you, Kittridge, you guys had some guys down there in twenty four that really led that group, and then you led that group, you know, last year until the trade deadline.

00:22:10
Speaker 6: But who are those.

00:22:11
Speaker 5: Guys that can kind of step into that role assuming they don't bring somebody in and keep that to be a strength of this year's team.

00:22:18
Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I think we see how teams use bullpens now, and you know, most good teams, I feel like, have you know, two closers, so to call it, especially in the playoffs. You know, you see how quick triggers are for starters and you know, but for the Cardinals, I think, you know, it's got to be Jojo And even though Riley's a little less time wise in the big leagues, you know, he's a little bit older and seasoned as a baseball player. So I think those two guys could be someone you know, they could lead that lead that bullpen. But I think the easy choice is Jojo just because he's he's been around so long and you know his pitch well, you know his whole career, and you know a lot of young guys are going to get more opportunities there if they don't sign guys you know which you know, I think it would be a thing to see, you know, what they have and see what those guys are capable of at that level.

00:23:05
Speaker 6: What did what did? Sorry I'm stepping in here, Jim. You did a two part earlier, so.

00:23:08
Speaker 5: I'm gonna go ahead and do back follow up here, and then I really want to ask about golf here. We're going to run out of time with Ryan, but I really want to know where he's golfing today. So this might be the last question, Jim.

00:23:19
Speaker 2: So you can do two parts. You can do two parts.

00:23:22
Speaker 5: Thanks, Thanks, thanks for that, you know, permission to do that. Riley, what was what was a big shift that.

00:23:28
Speaker 6: You saw in Riley?

00:23:30
Speaker 5: You know, when I was in a with the Rays kind of working back, you know, I saw him throw against this. In my word, it was like it was kind of a different guy. What what did you see from him when he got back up there, and what's going to make him so effective going forward?

00:23:43
Speaker 3: You think, Yeah, I think just trusting this stuff in the zone. You know, I think that's the hardest thing to do in the big leagues, you know, even the best guys to get out. You know, we talk about all the time in pitches meetings it's seven out of ten times, you know, first pitch strikes or you know the key. And I think when he really bought into just attacking guys and you know, trusting his stuff in his zone is when he really saw a big jump. And you know, confidence, as the picture, can take you a long way, especially in the bullpen, good or bad, you know, and when you have those bad games, it's you know, hard to sometimes get past those. And I think when you rattle off a few good ones and you can kind of see, like how your success happens, I think is a big way and a big contributor to success overall for a player. And you know, I think this year, you know, I would watch Cardinals games when I left, and you know, he's pitching in close games and you know, just like you said, look like a completely different picture. And confident, and you know, it's fun fun to watch guys, you know, make that leap and you know, just to really compete out there and just to lay it all on the line.

00:24:44
Speaker 5: Ask about golf, Jim, Jim, go ahead, Oh, did you have another?

00:24:48
Speaker 6: You have another question?

00:24:49
Speaker 2: Jim? No, So I was gonna let you ask golf.

00:24:53
Speaker 1: Then I was going to close out with one and we'd wrap this whole puppy up.

00:24:56
Speaker 5: Okay, all right, great, So obviously hell's you gotta the hat that has the upside down words on it, so you're obviously going golfing. It says birdies for those that can't read upside down. So uh, one, hope you score a lot of birdies today, it'd be great. Uh where are you going golfing? Tell us to tell us the schedule. We already know that your cafeated ready to go, But where are we going golfing today?

00:25:17
Speaker 4: Yeah?

00:25:17
Speaker 3: I think I'm gonna go to bel Air today to start off with, and then maybe try to sneak onto La Country Club as well.

00:25:23
Speaker 5: So uh yeah, sure that's the place you can sneak on. So he I wouldn't try to sneak on to La Country Club.

00:25:31
Speaker 2: We might pull some strings and get in.

00:25:33
Speaker 3: Uh that's bad phrasing there, But yeah, I think today is going to be complete golf, maybe thirty six holes and you know, we'll see if we can't score some birdies, that's awesome.

00:25:45
Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna do what Kyle was doing early. This isn't a baseball related question. By the way, Kyle, you were great. He also he's the guy that booked Elsley for today. To kudos to Kyle Gibson. But we're talking about LA right now. We're talking about the Big Apple. I want to know what you miss about Saint Louis.

00:26:05
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I just always explained to people it kind of feels like home for me. You know, I grew up in a small town and you know, you grow up there and get there at a twenty, you know, four year old kid, and you know I left at thirty one, so matured a lot and seeing a lot there and it just feels like a big farm town to me.

00:26:22
Speaker 4: You know, there's not much.

00:26:24
Speaker 3: Traffic really, you know, it just everything's kind of spread out and easy going.

00:26:27
Speaker 4: It's just a slower pace of life.

00:26:29
Speaker 3: And you know, that just just felt like home to me, and what I was used to and what I knew. The people are great, the fans are great. You know, it's just it's a hard place not to like.

00:26:39
Speaker 1: Honestly, Kyle, you were great. Appreciate it. Ryan Helsley, thank you for.

00:26:47
Speaker 2: Joining us.

00:26:48
Speaker 1: Hopefully you have a very happy landing spot as free agency comes to a close for you. And that's going to do it for this edition of Cardinal Territory. We'll see you next time. Hope ate that edition won't suck.