Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Matt Olson join FT @Braves camp

00:00:13
Speaker 1: I'm here with brave centerfielder center fielder Michael Harris. I'm gonna hit you with a tough question right away. We played together in twenty twenty three. In twenty twenty four, I got asked by a reporter who do I think could win the National League MVP?

00:00:29
Speaker 2: And I chose you. What's it gonna take for you to prove me?

00:00:33
Speaker 3: Right?

00:00:35
Speaker 4: I think exactly what I'm doing right now kind of came into spring knowing, knowing what it took, what it probably takes to get to that next level offensively for me, and I guess right now I'm being more selective and kind of find the right pitches to swing at and kind of accumulated some walks already. So hopefully that translates into the season and it can kind of prove you right there you go.

00:00:58
Speaker 5: We'd love to see it.

00:00:59
Speaker 6: So for our audience, I don't think we had you last year, at least not later in the year. So can you just kind of run through your evaluation of the season. It was kind of wild, right, I think well documented. You went through some ups and downs early on in the season, then you just tore it up late. So what did you see when you were able to evaluate your season in the off season on how things changed and what you learned from it.

00:01:24
Speaker 4: Yeah, I would say the first half it's pretty nasty. Didn't know, didn't know what was going on, didn't know what to fix, was trying different things. It will work for a couple of days and then go back to not really feel like myself. Until I came to the conclusion of my hands weren't getting to where I needed them to be. I would try to do drills in the case to exaggerate and get them up, and they were never they would never get up there. So I went it just said why not move my hands back up. I made the change when I got caught up to them from up to down, so I don't think it'd be that hard to go from down to up. Then I've pretty much done my whole life. So once I did that, everything started to flow. Uh started to hit fastballs again like normal, and and I felt felt like myself. So that's it's kind of what I what I assessed. Tried to keep doing that during the off season, make sure everything was nice, polished, and here in spring training trying to put it all together to be ready for Game one.

00:02:21
Speaker 1: Yeah, speaking of the off season, when you walked in here, I said, you look like you're in great shape. Obviously, you know the world knows about Lawrence Butler, but tell us about some of those other guys that you're kind of your your your baseball buddies that you trained with, the the Atlanta Boys and what you guys call yourself.

00:02:37
Speaker 7: Yeah, we call ourselves the Hill Boys.

00:02:40
Speaker 4: It's Chandler Simpson, Lawrence Butler, Jayalen Allen, Marquise Grissom, r Ryan Spike's, Cam Collier and myself. So yeah, we're from Atlanta.

00:02:52
Speaker 7: Uh.

00:02:52
Speaker 4: It started, It started in covid. We couldn't work out anywhere, so Markus Grissom let us work out at his at his what is it called his property, his property, and in Georgia and ever since then we kind of we kind of give ourselves the Hill Boy's name, and it's run by him and Luke Caryer. So they work us to death and we kind of come into spring training in shape.

00:03:14
Speaker 2: Have you raced Chandler chance? Have you raced him yet?

00:03:20
Speaker 4: I mean yeah, from from that one video everybody saw, uh, I say I won, I'm not gonna race him again. And obviously try to lose, but I'm gonna just take my title and say I won that one.

00:03:32
Speaker 6: Oh wow, I remember that. Okay, so one and done. What did Chandler say afterward? Was he trying to get you to go again?

00:03:39
Speaker 5: No?

00:03:41
Speaker 7: Originally that it wasn't even like a race.

00:03:43
Speaker 4: It was just our last sprint of the day after the workout, and it happened to be recorded, and uh.

00:03:49
Speaker 7: I happened.

00:03:50
Speaker 4: I guess technically I came in second from what Lawrence says, but he had on a long beanie, so it doesn't really count. He's already six y four with a long beanie reach over the line. I feel like I won, but uh, Chandler actually came in third, so that kind of makes him a little slower in the head, and he doesn't.

00:04:07
Speaker 7: He didn't like that, so I'm definitely not again.

00:04:11
Speaker 8: Are you gonna?

00:04:11
Speaker 9: Are you gonna take over for the freeze or looking for a new freeze in between?

00:04:14
Speaker 8: In it you could just be the new freeze.

00:04:17
Speaker 9: Apparently the freeze left. You could be the freeze and then just how the people try to chase you since you're so fast.

00:04:23
Speaker 4: I can start from center, I'm not I'm not going from the from the stout line.

00:04:27
Speaker 7: I'll start from center and try to finish.

00:04:29
Speaker 1: H How how how different it's camp been without uh Ronald being here? I know it's probably you know, we love Ronald, but your ears get a little nice break, right, You don't have to hear him talk all day every day.

00:04:43
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's not even it's not even Ronald, it's Izzy. Everybody got a nice, nice release when he left. It's a lot quiet air stretch. We can focus that stretch. But yeah, obviously missing missing those guys. Uh hoping they're having fun WBC and they're a big part of this team.

00:05:03
Speaker 7: But it is a lot quieter without Ozzi here.

00:05:06
Speaker 5: Hey, have you been watching?

00:05:08
Speaker 6: Of course you know Ozzy had his big moment over the weekend, but have you been watching the games? And what did you think of Ozzie's big swing?

00:05:17
Speaker 7: Yeah, I've been.

00:05:18
Speaker 4: I've been tuning into two games when I could. It was crazy because when Ozzie hit the walkoff, I had just came in from from coming out of a game that day. As soon as I walk in, he's in that situation. And then first pitch Homer, everybody's in the clubhouse going crazy. They call him afterwards, He's talking to the guys.

00:05:36
Speaker 7: Yeah, it was. It was a crazy moment. Yeah, doing that for your country.

00:05:41
Speaker 4: I know that it means so much to him and hopefully we can see that this year with the with the team.

00:05:48
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00:05:57
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00:05:58
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00:06:03
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00:06:04
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00:06:08
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00:06:10
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00:06:19
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00:06:23
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00:06:29
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00:06:47
Speaker 5: Thank you to see geek.

00:06:49
Speaker 1: Yeah, you're you're you're still young enough. But when you when you watch that, is there some extra motivation to potentially want to go represent the USA and play center field form?

00:06:59
Speaker 4: Yeah, for sure, I think it'll It'll mean a lot to be able to to wear USA across my chest and be able to play for this country. I guess it's whenever, whenever I get the chance to, I try my best to put on for this country.

00:07:15
Speaker 9: Michael, you're from Atlanta. We talked about you being from Atlanta and your whole thing. Who has more commercials when you watch a Braves game? You or Jeff frank core Because when you turn on a Braves game, it is commercial Michael Harris a second Jeff frank Corer. And then it's like back and forth, which one of y'all has more commercials happening in Atlanta at the same time.

00:07:37
Speaker 7: From what I hear. It has to be me.

00:07:39
Speaker 4: I feel like every commercial is is a different it's a different Bronco commercial.

00:07:45
Speaker 9: Yes, you must have a whole fleet of Broncos.

00:07:49
Speaker 7: No, I just I don't know.

00:07:51
Speaker 8: I hate to hear it.

00:07:51
Speaker 4: I just hate to hear myself back and so I kind of avoid hearing them. But people tell me all the time that I'm not going to every commercial and I better really give that Bronco away or yeah it's I don't know.

00:08:06
Speaker 7: I'm glad I don't have to watch the game. I'm in the game.

00:08:08
Speaker 4: So yeah, I hear. I hear a lot that that I'm on the commercials a lot.

00:08:12
Speaker 2: And I'll tell you what, though, that Bronco they give you is nice. I've seen it.

00:08:15
Speaker 1: I don't know about the ones over the last couple of years, but the one that you had when I was there was really nice.

00:08:21
Speaker 2: What's the vibe been like with Walt you know you man in the ship now?

00:08:25
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's been good. He's energized, he's ready to win. He gave us our first meeting. He gave us as rational kind of video to go off of to to kind of using our careers in our in our everyday life. So he's ready to go to war, and we're ready to be his soldiers to go with him.

00:08:41
Speaker 1: Was it a was it like a movie quote or was it like a thing that he kind of put together, what kind of what kind of you know, video?

00:08:48
Speaker 7: Was just it was a UFC fighter.

00:08:50
Speaker 4: I forgot his name, but he was he was like the number one fighter at the time, and he was going against a guy that he was supposed to be but he was immensely prepared because maybe he thought he was gonna he was gonna automatically beat him. And he said that he told himself in the mirror that he wasn't he wasn't ready right before he went out, and he ended up.

00:09:09
Speaker 7: Ended up losing.

00:09:11
Speaker 4: He took that, he took that with him, came back and front the same dude again, and it was kind of like a massacre. So, uh, it was It was basically the message was, I guess be ready if you're If you're not ready, you're not going to conquer the moment. So just prepare, Just prepare for every moment to be the best.

00:09:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, just just sitting here hearing that message kind of almost makes me want to get out of this chair and go back and play but I'm pretty comfortable here obviously, AO or the NL East Juggernaut. You know, obviously a tough year last year, first time you guys missed the playoffs in you know, the last eight years, you.

00:09:48
Speaker 2: Know, extra motivation going into this season.

00:09:52
Speaker 4: Yeah, for sure, I never wanted to ever miss the playoffs in my career, but that's just the way last year went. And uh, we're kind of do everything to do everything right now to not be in that position again. You don't know, you don't know how the season goes. Baseball is such a crazy, crazy sport and when you play one hundred sixty two games, so much can happen. So just being able to be here and try to prepare with the new guys that we have and the coaching stuff is it is kind of who were prepared to do to not do what we did last year.

00:10:21
Speaker 6: Hey, when you guys were going through that last year, how difficult was it because you've in your career never experienced that at all. So you end up late in the season essentially playing games that don't mean anything because the team was either eliminated or close to being eliminated over that past month or so.

00:10:44
Speaker 4: It was kind of crazy. The vibes weren't different in the clubhouse. Everybody was still lighthearted, still the same guys. It just when we got to the game and got in certain situations, it just didn't go our way. And it's one of those things you couldn't rely put your finger on what was going wrong or what was really happening. But at one point our whole rotation was gone. They were dealing too when it happened, So I kind of took a hit on us. We weren't really performing as well on offense. That kind of went on top of that. So yeah, it was it was a weird year, but I wouldn't say our vibes changed or the way we were, so we just didn't execute the way we should have.

00:11:25
Speaker 1: I know you guys had an extremely tough start to the season last year, the West Coast road trip, the teams you played, obviously, I think you guys were nine to start the year and seven to start the year. Do you believe you guys will kind of approach the end of spring training a little bit differently once you know your WBC guys get back, maybe last couple of games, like, hey, let's treat these a little bit like games, let's get that good competitive juice going. So you go into the season a little bit more prepared than last year, or is it just a tough start to the season last year.

00:11:57
Speaker 7: I think it was just a tough start.

00:11:58
Speaker 4: I feel like we prepared the right way last year just didn't happen to fall in place for US two tough teams obviously the World Series champion the first second series, but didn't plan the padres. I feel like it was just as good as them going into it.

00:12:15
Speaker 7: We just didn't. We just didn't pull out a win. But can't be used as an excuse.

00:12:21
Speaker 4: We just never found our way back after that and kind of hurt us.

00:12:25
Speaker 6: Hey, so when things don't go right the online world, Michael just wants to find something right.

00:12:32
Speaker 5: Like you said, Hey, it's hard to find it.

00:12:34
Speaker 6: I will make the case that not having a lot of the rotation in tact is pretty challenging as well when you look back last year. But there was one narrative that carried for a little bit about how, hey, a lot of these guys are an extension, so maybe they're not as hungry, Like, how do you defend that because most of the time fans are rooting for what you guys have. Hey, get extensions done, so you got the same core for a while. Fans can buy the jerseys, they can follow the stars, they stay with the team. So what's kind of the pushback for people that say that, because because you're one of them, right, you signed an extension earlier on in your career, and can you speak to how motivated you are every day?

00:13:13
Speaker 4: Yeah, I've I've never really understood why people think because players are paid and have an extension that they're just they're just kind of coming in every day, going through the motions and not really caring about the results. I feel like it makes you even more hungry because there's more expectations for you and you. I feel like everybody wants to be the best. So yeah, I never I never understood why why people think that we think that way. But I think that's what makes lasher so much tougher because we have so many people that are extended and we didn't have the seasons that we are kind of supposed to have.

00:13:48
Speaker 9: Hey, Michael, give me your best Chris Sale story. I know he's done something crazy in that clubouse, so you got to give me something.

00:13:57
Speaker 8: I know he said something or done something.

00:13:59
Speaker 7: He's done something crazy. Oh I don't know, or you just.

00:14:05
Speaker 5: Don't talk to give him context because you play playing.

00:14:08
Speaker 7: I talked to the I'm not around him as much.

00:14:13
Speaker 9: I played with Chris James came up, so I've known him since twenty ten.

00:14:17
Speaker 1: Okay, AJ, How scared would you be if you hit that samurai sword he can sale?

00:14:23
Speaker 3: Yeah?

00:14:23
Speaker 2: You see that Samurai sword that Mizuno gave him.

00:14:26
Speaker 9: Yeah, No, he's not getting he's not getting within twenty feet of me or my family, especially even the uniforms for that.

00:14:31
Speaker 5: Matter, does even know that? Like Michael so Young?

00:14:36
Speaker 9: Does you know that Chrystal chopped up the uniforms? You've heard that story, right?

00:14:40
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah he told us about that too. So yeah, that's probably his craziest story.

00:14:45
Speaker 1: Not yeah, yeah, he's on his best behavior now he's matured.

00:14:51
Speaker 9: Yeah, Chris is matured.

00:14:54
Speaker 8: Now that's good.

00:14:57
Speaker 6: I got one more last one for me. How do you preserve your body playing center field? We see some guys able to carry it deep into their career. Actually, it's a perfect question with both of you sitting there right. Kp able to do it, you know, deep into his thirties, Like, how do you do it? Are you thinking about that, like, Hey, I want to I want to play this position for a long time, longer than most do. And what can you do to make that happen?

00:15:22
Speaker 4: I think it all depends on the person, the player. You just got to find a routine that works for you and it makes you feel good going into a game. Last year, I was able to stay healthy when I played one hundred and sixty games, So I don't know exactly what changed, but well, I think I did find a routine that really worked for me, and just going out there every day to feel my best. Recovering the right way may can sure dem hydrated. So it all depends on the player and what works for you.

00:15:53
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean right on that topic, it's perfect time to let them get out of here, because part is staying healthy and playing center field for a long time time is making sure you get the stretch on time, make sure you stretch it out. And we got to get this guy out here for stretch because you know, when healthy, when the swing's right, when the mentality is right. I truly believe this guy's got the skill set to be one of the elite players in this game. And you know, I'm always rooting for you, big fan of yours. Stay healthy and go make the a proud.

00:16:25
Speaker 7: Oh yeah, I appreciate it.

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00:16:42
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00:16:53
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00:17:28
Speaker 1: Cooking here at Braves Camp with one of my favorite teamates of all time, probably the most consistent guy in baseball right now, Matt Olson, thanks for joining us. My first question series question, how thankful I'm trying to think your playing first base would be your left ear right? How thankful are you that Ozzie's out of here right now and you don't have to hear him chirpin all day every day.

00:17:58
Speaker 8: It's weird.

00:17:59
Speaker 10: I thought I would like it, but you know, I find myself missing some constant chatter out there.

00:18:05
Speaker 1: It's weird too because it comes from a much different angle, you know. It's kind of like from down here up to your to your ear.

00:18:11
Speaker 10: I don't do this to me. I already blast him enough. I don't need extra take out there. He's gonna be upset.

00:18:18
Speaker 6: Wait for the national audience though, Like how much talking goes on it? Is he the most talkative teammate on the team? And and is he funny?

00:18:25
Speaker 5: Like? What what is the banter going on there from Ozzie.

00:18:28
Speaker 6: We've had him on the show a couple of times, but to give a glimpse from a teammate.

00:18:31
Speaker 10: Yeah, he's he's the guy that's always talking, you know, he's he's the English and Spanish guy, so he's he's the one in the.

00:18:39
Speaker 8: Middle, just stirring the pot for everybody.

00:18:43
Speaker 10: We we always hit him with some some short jokes unfortunately for him, but he loves it and he drops it right back to us.

00:18:53
Speaker 5: I love it.

00:18:54
Speaker 6: Hey, Matt, are you watching the WBC closely? Like are you checking out all the games the last four or five days?

00:19:00
Speaker 8: Yeah, I've been watching him. You know.

00:19:03
Speaker 10: Some of the weird times, I haven't seen some stuff, but I've always been seeing clips.

00:19:07
Speaker 8: Obviously Ozzie's Homer. The other day actually we.

00:19:10
Speaker 10: Came right out of the game and as we were walking in I saw it live.

00:19:15
Speaker 8: So it was a it was a sick at that cool moment for him.

00:19:19
Speaker 10: And uh, you know we talked to him and and I told him congrats.

00:19:24
Speaker 2: So, I mean, I've been in this clubhouse.

00:19:26
Speaker 1: I know how tight you and Austin are, how you guys do a lot of things together. Is there anything that you could kind of teach him or I know you've probably tried to teach him, but is there anything that you could kind of share with him too that's allowed you to be so consistent on the field.

00:19:40
Speaker 2: Obviously he's had some injuries over the last couple of.

00:19:42
Speaker 1: Years, because when you two were out there, I mean, arguably the best corner in baseball.

00:19:51
Speaker 10: You know, Rouse is pretty good about his stuff. It's it's not any secret pill I got. You know, I say that playing first base is a lot of what allows.

00:20:02
Speaker 8: Me to be on the field. You know.

00:20:04
Speaker 10: Two years ago he got hit in the hand with a ninety eight mine hour sinker and missed some time. And last year the hernia stuff, it's something you tried to get through and just you know, came back out and couldn't do it. Had to get it, you know, surgically repaired. But when when that guy's on the field, he's he's one of the best in the game on all all sides of the ball. He can you know, he can run, he can hit, he can field. He's just a special talent. And you know, I always forget how how much younger than me he is. He's been doing it for so long that you know, and he's such a mature guy that he feels like, you know, somebody around my age, but still a younger guy and a lot left.

00:20:45
Speaker 8: To do in this league.

00:20:48
Speaker 9: Man, you mentioned wanting to play. Dude, you're going for Kyle Ripkins streak here. You've got four straight years, one hundred and sixty two. You only have like fifteen more years to go. You think you're gonna make it.

00:20:58
Speaker 10: Yeah, I think I'm gonna be on a golf course somewhere by the time that it get gets close at all. It is kind of crazy. It puts it into his streak and the perspective a little bit. You know, I feel like I've been out there every day for a while and I'm not even sniffing him.

00:21:18
Speaker 1: How was the golf game, by the way, Because I've been out there with you, and.

00:21:22
Speaker 2: I mean there's some moments.

00:21:25
Speaker 8: I show flashes.

00:21:26
Speaker 10: It's enough to keep me coming back pop a eighty one day and then a ninety five the next.

00:21:34
Speaker 1: You know, obviously new manager here, familiar face. What's it been like with what being the head of this ship? And has it been any different than you thought it would be?

00:21:45
Speaker 2: No, Walt's been great.

00:21:46
Speaker 10: I mean, you know, Walt from being here but just all time guy, you know, somebody who's obviously grew up in kind of that older school era, but you know, he's got sons who were playing now, so he understands kind of the newer stuff and you know, just the proper blend between the two.

00:22:07
Speaker 8: I think, you know, he says it great.

00:22:09
Speaker 10: He talks about it, you know, the analytics and the and the video and all that stuff being tools. But when it's time to go play, you go play. And you know.

00:22:19
Speaker 8: I just love Walt's relationship with everybody.

00:22:23
Speaker 10: And you know, he's he played, he was he was a grinder when he played. He was, you know, intense dude, and I think that he's going to bring a little a little edge to us.

00:22:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, being around you, being your teammate, I know how much you take pride in knowing the strike zone, and I know how frustrating it could be sometimes when you feel like you're right. And obviously the umpires have a difficult job to do. But how do you like the ABS system and how do you feel like you're going to implement it this year?

00:22:53
Speaker 5: Uh?

00:22:53
Speaker 8: Yeah, it's been good. You know.

00:22:55
Speaker 10: I I won one, my only challenge one. It was really close and probably shouldn't do that during the season. I'm still trying to kind of get a feel for it. Got punched out on one the other day, so uh, that was a little difficult to sit there waiting to see if I'm gonna walk back to the dig out.

00:23:18
Speaker 8: But I think it's good.

00:23:19
Speaker 10: I think once we get into the swing things, it's just gonna take away the big misses. You know, there's gonna be guys that challenge stuff and they're gonna get it wrong. But I feel like, you know, you only get two. They're so important that guys are gonna put it in their pocket if it's a Boerline pitch and like I said, kind of just take away the big misses.

00:23:37
Speaker 1: Has there been a conversation yet about how you guys are gonna use them? Is that a conversation you have with you know, you're hitting coaches, Walt, you know, do you guys sit down as offense and go these are the times we use it? Or is it something where you feel like you're gonna get freedom until baby Ronald uses it the first pitch of the game.

00:23:54
Speaker 2: You're like, okay, come.

00:23:55
Speaker 10: On, Ronald, No, I mean we haven't had a you know, sit down and clear, clear cut what we're going to do. I think for now it's like err on the side of you know, just going for it if you feel it, to kind of get a feel for it. I'm sure at some point we'll kind of figure out the you know, if we want to have any strategy involved with it. You know, I'm sure probably here. And I would guess around the league that a lot of pictures won't have you know, as much freedom with it. I think most pictures that I've talked to want to leave it in the hands of the catcher. As far as us at the plate, I think we're just kind of get a little feel for it, and uh, you know, I think some guys are going to be good, some guys are going to be bad, and you know, you might lose your privileges if you get a couple of.

00:24:50
Speaker 2: Mine would be taken immediately immediately.

00:24:53
Speaker 1: I had a bad feel for the strike zone.

00:24:56
Speaker 6: Stats on that too. I mean you saw it right. I mean they've got the stats downs stack Cast has it up, you know, for every player, So eventually you guys will be able to make fun of each other on that one too, and also make real strategic decisions.

00:25:10
Speaker 5: Seriously, is allowed to use it and not?

00:25:12
Speaker 8: Yeah, tie somebody's hand behind their back.

00:25:15
Speaker 6: Yeah, exactly did you see by the way the Brewers and how they were trying to get the signals going, And then like a day later, the league was like, not, we're not doing that. We're not doing the dugout signals.

00:25:26
Speaker 8: Oh no, I didn't see that.

00:25:28
Speaker 5: You saw right, You guys didn't see this, KP. You didn't see this either.

00:25:33
Speaker 1: I think I saw something on I think there was like where they.

00:25:35
Speaker 9: Were like reder blue cards cards.

00:25:38
Speaker 6: They had cards, and the league said no, how quick did they have to be with the cards?

00:25:42
Speaker 5: I don't know. It was so the whole situation was so quick.

00:25:45
Speaker 6: And I didn't watch the game, but I did see a story a day later that said they are not allowed to do that.

00:25:50
Speaker 5: No, no signaling of any kind.

00:25:52
Speaker 6: I think during AB Matt or even just they were putting stuff up for scenarios like, hey, we don't want you to do this.

00:26:01
Speaker 5: I don't know.

00:26:01
Speaker 6: Maybe entering the AB they look at the dugout to see I don't know, but of course green card up meant it was an okay time to challenge getting the slab as we go here, and the league was like, no cards from the dugout. We're not doing like you know Audible's football style with signals.

00:26:18
Speaker 5: So our good thing. You guys didn't even talk about that out there? What is that?

00:26:23
Speaker 1: Our teams hiring those guys because I'm available sitting the dugout and hold of green or yellow card.

00:26:28
Speaker 6: But you said you weren't good enough at it, so they need somebody. They're gonna bring somebody.

00:26:32
Speaker 1: I could tell you it's a good time to challenge. I'm not going to tell you if the ball or strike, but I'll tell you it's.

00:26:36
Speaker 9: A good time to go.

00:26:37
Speaker 8: Matt.

00:26:38
Speaker 9: Hey, Matt, what happens if you guys run out of challenges? You think the umpire will be like, you know what' screw these guys. They messed up twice. I'm just going to widen the strike zone. We're gonna go back like it used to be.

00:26:49
Speaker 10: I mean, i'd be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind.

00:26:56
Speaker 8: You know, maybe if we.

00:27:00
Speaker 10: Challenge a couple just egregious ones that they got right in the first two innings and he wants to stick it to us for the next seven, I don't know, you know, don't. I don't actually think that they're going to be doing that, but.

00:27:14
Speaker 8: I don't know.

00:27:15
Speaker 10: Hopefully we don't, we don't run into some of those old school zones that you were getting when you were first up.

00:27:23
Speaker 2: Oh yeahah, it was.

00:27:24
Speaker 8: A little different.

00:27:24
Speaker 9: It was a little bit different. We didn't have the little box and we didn't have any It was literally the umpire would just say, hey, like, my hands are this wide. I'm calling this white today.

00:27:33
Speaker 11: Right.

00:27:34
Speaker 9: There was no box and there was no we didn't get reports on the umpire. It was like this guy has a big zone or this guy has a small zone. And first inning you figured it out and say, better swing today, boys, because they would tell you. The umpires would tell you. They'd say, hey, it's a day game. I have an early dinner or early flight swing because I'm calling everything and they called everything.

00:27:55
Speaker 8: Yeah.

00:27:56
Speaker 1: Hey, at this point in time in your career, you get down here for spring training, what are the things that you kind of want to accomplish? Do you know how many at bats you want to take or to just kind of experience the first things I get the two strikes, maybe you know, drive a ball, you know, hit a ball the opposite way, and then you're kind of like, hey, let me just got it here healthy.

00:28:16
Speaker 10: I think the the later I've gotten in my career, the more that I try to get as many at bats as I can. I feel like the kind of like the forty to fifty numbers is kind of the sweet spot.

00:28:26
Speaker 8: Obviously, don't want to go.

00:28:27
Speaker 10: Just blow it out for nine innings every game with the season coming up, but you know, luckily we get live abs before the games actually start.

00:28:38
Speaker 8: We got to troject up now, so.

00:28:41
Speaker 10: You know, there's never been an easier time to kind of get at bats without getting into the hole, you know, playing so much every single day, but it's the most important thing is always going to be getting at bats, seeing pitching, seeing arms. I wouldn't say there's one thing that you know, if I do it, I'm like, all right, I'm good to go, just because each each day is so different. But you know, staying healthy and getting that bats is are the two main checkpoints.

00:29:14
Speaker 6: Hey, Matt, last one I have for you. I gotta do my classic ace question, but it's a fun.

00:29:19
Speaker 5: One for you.

00:29:20
Speaker 6: Have you seen them handing out extensions left and right? Things have changed, I mean for Sacramento, eventually Vegas. They they've locked up like three four guys and there might be one or two more. But by the time we get the opening day, you're like, damn, where was that.

00:29:35
Speaker 10: Yeah, I got a new stadium coming. Gotta gotta have somebody there, you know.

00:29:40
Speaker 6: Yeah, you see, I mean there's a lot of guys, and I'm saying guys that are just five seconds into the banks too. You saw, like Jack Jack Wilson I left and right, there are Jacob Wilson, Jack's kid, left and right.

00:29:51
Speaker 5: They're signing guys early, and Nick Kurtz might be next.

00:29:54
Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, they got it. They got a good core, good young core there. You know. I think it's good to see that.

00:30:02
Speaker 3: You know.

00:30:02
Speaker 10: I think they're all probably you'd classify as team friendly deals.

00:30:08
Speaker 8: You know. It's young guys getting some.

00:30:13
Speaker 10: You know, some comfortability with a with a deal before they get too old, and the team's you know, kind of taking a chance and saying I might be able to save some money. So I think it's a win win for him. I think it's good that, you know, they're they're going to have some guys there, you know, for multiple years. Obviously we know the turnover there, so you know those guys have earned it, and you know, happy for the guys who are you know, getting getting that. Uh you know those deals and and some some assurance.

00:30:46
Speaker 1: Last one, yeah, rightly worked out for you.

00:30:52
Speaker 9: You wouldn't change exactly at home where you're from.

00:31:00
Speaker 3: Contract.

00:31:01
Speaker 8: Oh, I got no complaints.

00:31:02
Speaker 9: He's got no complaints.

00:31:03
Speaker 11: He's living at home. He's only got to he's only got to pack one time a year. It's probably costing him. It's probably costing him money and tickets though, because I'm sure every park view what is it parkview panther wants to come watch you play.

00:31:14
Speaker 9: All the time.

00:31:15
Speaker 10: They've actually been They've actually been pretty good to me. You know, most people were Braves fans before me, so they found their way to the true at themselves.

00:31:26
Speaker 2: So yeah, last one for me.

00:31:29
Speaker 1: I'm just gonna ask you about traject how much you use it? How much do you feel like it's kind of I feel like pitching has always been ahead of hitting in terms of the technology that they had. Do you feel like it's kind of closed that gap a little bit allowed the hitter to prepare for the picture even more.

00:31:46
Speaker 8: I mean, I love it.

00:31:48
Speaker 10: We got it halfway through last year and just the ability to go see some shape from the guy. You know, it's uh, you can go in there and hit the machine all you want, you know, if your face and somebody with a nasty breaking ball or and obviously true Jack's gonna have a little variability to it. It's not perfect, but you can go in there and hit all his pitches and then you know, step out and say, all right, pitch me like you think they're going to pitch me today and take an ad bat. And I love doing it, you know, especially now to be able to kind of get some at bats off guys on days you're not playing, and you know people are going to face during the season, but then during the year going and hitting the cage and then face that guy for you know, see thirty pitches off of him before you.

00:32:37
Speaker 8: Actually go face him. You know, I think it's invaluable.

00:32:43
Speaker 2: Well, I can't thank you enough for coming on.

00:32:46
Speaker 1: I think this is your foul Territory debut.

00:32:50
Speaker 2: No not, if not, you've been on before, I've been on before. Oh well the first time with me, but last.

00:32:55
Speaker 9: Time he came on, he was in like a broom closet through So we're very we're very happy.

00:32:59
Speaker 5: We got him out of.

00:33:00
Speaker 8: We got we got an official setup for once. Yeah, yeah, set up.

00:33:04
Speaker 1: And by the way, this guy's cooking me dinner after the game today, so I'm gonna report back by his uh his cooking skills too.

00:33:12
Speaker 5: Good luck, Matt. What are you making.

00:33:15
Speaker 10: We're just gonna we're gonna make a little tacos, got some some steak, Mary Nathan, some chicken. There's gonna be like eight kids running around, so we're not gonna get too fancy with it.

00:33:26
Speaker 2: Yeah, kid friendly, kid friendly.

00:33:28
Speaker 6: Good good, Well, we appreciate you, Matt, Thank you so much for joining us. Good luck this season, we'll be talking.

00:33:34
Speaker 8: Thanks Philos.

00:33:36
Speaker 7: M hm h mhm.

00:33:49
Speaker 1: Excited to be here in Braves camp with one of my good friends, Austin Riley. I think this is your foul to foul territory debut. I guess my first question to you is you're healthy, and if so, what have you really changed this offseason in order for you to be healthy?

00:34:06
Speaker 3: You know, it was.

00:34:06
Speaker 12: Really just, you know, I'm not getting any younger, trying to just you know, obviously with the sports hernea, it was more about just like staying mobile, flexible, kind of tailoring my workouts towards that with the lower abdomen injury.

00:34:23
Speaker 3: But feel good, feel like I'm in a really good spot.

00:34:26
Speaker 12: I was able to actually have you know, prior to the year before, I broke my hand and was in a cast for fourteen months or fourteen weeks and really didn't have a full off season. So being able to have like a true full off season kind of do what I normally do to prep for spring and season was nice.

00:34:44
Speaker 6: All right, Austin, I'm gonna ask you a big picture question. So for the Braves, they've had a really successful run, teammates the playoffs every year except last year for a while.

00:34:52
Speaker 5: Now they won the World Series in twenty twenty one.

00:34:55
Speaker 6: Do you feel like the expectations for this franchise have a crazy level because of the success that's happened like last year. Of course, you don't want the team to go through that, but yeah, you look at most franchises, they don't have this kind of run and this kind of expectations anymore.

00:35:13
Speaker 12: No, I mean, I think it's it's a it's a good spot to be in, right, you know, being able to come in every year and expect to make a deep run, and and you know, expect to win.

00:35:26
Speaker 3: You know, I think you put yourself in a in a good spot.

00:35:29
Speaker 12: I think, you know the last couple of years with with injuries and and then you know, not not performing.

00:35:35
Speaker 3: You know, you know, I think it it.

00:35:39
Speaker 12: I don't want to say it happens, but you know it's this is a tough game, and you guys know how tough it is and how so many things have to go right for you to to to make a deep run.

00:35:50
Speaker 3: So no, I think it's it's a it's a great thing. I think so. I mean, you know, we play the game.

00:35:57
Speaker 12: To to try to win a World Series, and you guys want to be on teams that that are going to do that too, are going to make moves and and do things to to try to win. So you know, I'm I'm glad to be here and have that expectation of of winning every year.

00:36:14
Speaker 1: You know, speaking of expectations, you've got a new manager, familiar face. What has kind of been his message? How how have you seen it a little bit different? You know, obviously I was here a couple of years ago with with Snith Won't being part of his staff. You know, what was kind of his first day camp message? How things are going to be very similar but yet different.

00:36:34
Speaker 3: Yeah.

00:36:34
Speaker 12: I think, you know, for me, the big thing with with Walt is just the attention to detail that I think he shows. And and you know this he understands, you know, he's played the game, so he understands how hard it is, and and you know, showing up every day and and you know, the camp vibe this year has been very you know, high energy, a lot going on, which I think is has been great.

00:37:03
Speaker 3: You know, just kind of a like I said, we we we.

00:37:07
Speaker 12: I feel like this organization knows how to win, and I think after the last couple of years, you know, just just to shake up a little bit, just like bringing some guys in with a lot of energy, and Walt's showing that.

00:37:20
Speaker 3: Like I said, the camp has been great.

00:37:22
Speaker 12: You know, he's he's very knowledgeable of the game and and uh, I think it's been unbelievable so far.

00:37:27
Speaker 6: From Hey, Austin when that was all going down, and when we've spoken to Walton, and you know, even right around when it happened when he was hired. It took a little bit of time. Did you have any conversations with Alex Anthoplos or anyone else. Did they consult with some of the vets on just the process?

00:37:47
Speaker 3: Did not know? Not not during the process.

00:37:49
Speaker 12: Like I said, Alex has has asked me, you know, just getting you know, asking us players about Walt, and you know, like I said, nothing but good things to to of, you know, touch on Walt.

00:38:01
Speaker 3: Like I said, I you.

00:38:03
Speaker 12: Know, I think there's two ways you could go until you could stay in the house and you could you know, gone outside and got somebody else.

00:38:08
Speaker 3: And and for me, you know, if we were going to stay inside, it it was it was Walt. For me, I thought, I thought that was a no brainer.

00:38:17
Speaker 5: How different is Walt from Snip, you.

00:38:24
Speaker 3: Know Snip Snit's very you know, there's a lot of similarities there. You know, He's gonna let you do your thing.

00:38:32
Speaker 12: He trusts and his players of coming in in spring training and preparing each and every day.

00:38:37
Speaker 3: He's not gonna go out there and kill us.

00:38:39
Speaker 7: Uh.

00:38:39
Speaker 12: But like I said, I think that the energy level of of we're doing some different things is as far as like with the new staff also of just you know, I think we you know, from us standpoint, we can we can improve you know, base running. You know, we're doing situational defensive stuff to just kind of hone in on on those those in game plays that that you don't you know, they happened one or once or twice a year. So I think, just like I said that, to me, that's been the biggest difference is is just like I said, just the little stuff that you know, you typically don't touch on, but you know, we're we're we're making sure we're checking those boxes and making sure that we're as prepared as as we can be for for the season.

00:39:23
Speaker 9: Austin, do you mess with Walt at all? Because you know he's like a quadruple black jiu jitsu right now? Do you stay far away from him?

00:39:33
Speaker 5: Yeah?

00:39:33
Speaker 3: I can't. I keep the peace for sure.

00:39:36
Speaker 12: You know, I tell you if if we get into into something during the season, I'll be I'll be right there behind him or next to him, because I would not want to mess with him.

00:39:45
Speaker 3: I see. I've seen his workouts in the gym. He gets after it pretty good.

00:39:50
Speaker 1: Hey, I've seen things Walt talks about for a long time. The Braves Way has been playing one hundred and sixty two games, and obviously you have Olson who's been able to do it. Is that something you're open to if you feel like it's something that's going to keep you healthy. Maybe taking an occasional day off. Where do you still have this mindset of I want to play one sixty two.

00:40:08
Speaker 12: You know, for me, I think I would, you know, I'm okay if they if they decide to give me a day or two here and there at the DH. You know, I just coming off the last couple of years with injuries. But the mindset and the goal and the preparation of how I've done everything leading up to this point, it's to play one hundred and sixty two.

00:40:28
Speaker 3: I think that's just, to me, the only way to do it.

00:40:31
Speaker 12: I think if you're preparing to play one hundred and ten games or one hundred and twenty, like I think, you're kind of setting yourself up for not failure, but just you know, not prepared enough. I think, like I said, you've got to prepare for one hundred and sixty two games, and we'll see how the season goes. But like I said, right now, my body feels feels really good. And and you know, in twenty one, two twenty three played right around one hundred and sixty two, so kind of kind of I personally want to get back to that.

00:40:58
Speaker 1: And then that obviously some of the moves that have happened, and not bringing back a guy like Azuna. Yeah, you know, with Murphy being hurt, the d H is obviously, uh you kind of be a rotated doer that's just gonna give the opportunity to go date some days.

00:41:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure.

00:41:14
Speaker 12: And like I said, you think Murphy you take you know, I think it would be really good for Ronald, like I said, with with the with the knee, the knee injuries and and how hard he plays when when he's out there, you know, you definitely want his bat in the in the in the lineup every day. But like I said, if that's something that you give him, you know, get him off his feed a little bit on everybody knows how hot you know of eleven thirty July game in Atlanta can be. So I think that that, like I said, leaving that open a little bit for for those you know that those guys I think will be will be good for us.

00:41:49
Speaker 6: Hey, Austin, what is your level of dislike for your divisional opponents, especially some of the rivals that you guys have gone back and forth with I'm always curious. Like last year is a good example because, like we talked about, it was finally a year the team didn't make the playoffs. So were you like, haha when say the Mets collapsed late or you.

00:42:07
Speaker 5: Know, like how deep does it go? Do you want them to not succeed at all?

00:42:11
Speaker 6: Because some guys have to do that for that to be in their head that like, hey, I face these guys all the time.

00:42:16
Speaker 5: I live for them losing.

00:42:18
Speaker 12: No, I mean, you know, being in a division, yeah, I don't don't don't want them to win for sure.

00:42:24
Speaker 3: I mean I think that that's that's the obvious. You know.

00:42:26
Speaker 12: I definitely want to be the team that that wins the division and and and want.

00:42:32
Speaker 3: To beat them every time we play them. I mean, it's that simple.

00:42:36
Speaker 12: I do not want to lose to them, you know, want to be ahead of them in standings. I think that you ask anybody that's that's anywhere else, they're going to say the same thing. But at the same time, I absolutely love going to New York and I love going to Philly and playing in those atmospheres. The hostility there is unmatched. Their fans do not like us whatsoever. So you know, I definitely look forward to to go into those cities and playing.

00:43:06
Speaker 3: It's it's fun baseball awesome.

00:43:10
Speaker 9: You mentioned you know you're you're healthy this offseason with with all this crazy things that have been happening to the pitchers of the position players, put a wall up of like plastic between you guys and the pitchers because I have never seen a run of things, crazy things happen to a group of players like what's already happened to the bravest pitching staff.

00:43:29
Speaker 3: It's crazy, and yeah, I don't know what's going on.

00:43:33
Speaker 12: That's why I grew the hair out, why I've grown the beard out a little bit, just trying to change the mojo up a little bit.

00:43:40
Speaker 3: Of something. So I've, like I said, I've never seen anything like it.

00:43:43
Speaker 12: You know, it's I get that injuries are part of the game and and it's gonna happen. And I know pitching from you know, today's pitching is is all of you know, all about v low and spin and and you know, strikeouts and so uh yeah, we're we're I don't know if we're putting up a barrier or not, but we're definitely trying to trying to avoid that as much as possible.

00:44:09
Speaker 1: All right, before we let you get out of here, tell us a little about a little bit about your golf tournament that's coming this year.

00:44:14
Speaker 12: Yeah, so we're doing it. Believe it's April twenty seventh. We got an off day. I like to always do it, like because I like the guys if they want to come out, they you know, and and I hate and you know, getting you know, traveling from from a road city and then having that off day trying to ask guys.

00:44:33
Speaker 3: You know, you get in at two o'clock. So we're I think we're.

00:44:36
Speaker 12: Home off day and then home again Atlanta Athletic Club. Uh, the war we're teaming up with the Warriors Alliance this year. And for me, it's just the veterans, you know, trying to put them on the front front board of of what they do for our country. You know, I think they get put on the back burner a lot, and and you know, trying to just you know, raise awareness. My team does an unbelievable job of putting on the event and you know, thanks to them, and it's gonna be gonna be fun.

00:45:05
Speaker 3: It always is.

00:45:06
Speaker 12: This is fourth year doing it. It seems like it gets better and better each year, so I'm excited.

00:45:12
Speaker 8: Awesome.

00:45:12
Speaker 9: Do you invite alumni to your golf tournament or is it just Chipper and Smoltz? Is it just Chipper and Smolts, you know, never showed up twenty fifteen Braves Player of the Year, you know, So, I mean you would feel like that you get invited to your golf tournament.

00:45:27
Speaker 3: We will reach out more welcome.

00:45:30
Speaker 9: I mean, Greg Walker is one of your biggest fans. I've known him since I was like, you know, twenty five years ago now, So, I mean it figured to earn me somehow.

00:45:38
Speaker 3: We got you. We got you, all.

00:45:40
Speaker 1: Right, the last one before I get you out of here. I know it's probably a little quieter around here with Ozzie being gone. Yeah, did you call him after his walk off?

00:45:49
Speaker 5: We?

00:45:50
Speaker 12: I think, uh, somebody was on FaceTime with him and you.

00:45:55
Speaker 3: Know, we were messing with him. I was like, that is about the littlest league jump on home plate that ever. No, that was awesome. That was a great swing, great moment for him in his country. Yeah, but we ragged him a little bit. That was good.

00:46:10
Speaker 1: Well, we can't thank you enough for being here. One of my favorite teammates of all time, one of the best humans in all of baseball. And stay healthy because we love watching me play. One of the best third basements of the game. Went healthy, so we appreciate you appreciate it.