← The Lovable Reunion
The Lovable Reunion
Kris Bryant on his MAGICAL 2016 MLB MVP year & Cubs World Series + Ross & Rizzo's HILARIOUS hazing
01:22:13
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- [00:01]
A
Anthony rizzo. David ross. Chris bryant. Welcome back to another episode of Lovable Reunion. I'm Anthony Rizzo. My partner David ross, joined by 2016 MVP Chris Bryant. Welcome to the show. Can you believe it's been 10 years?
- [00:24]
B
Yeah.
- [00:26]
C
Been on quite a journey since then.
- [00:28]
B
Yeah, I can. Yeah. But no, it's just. It's been cool to see everybody get together and seems like everybody hasn't changed too much.
- [00:36]
A
So it feels like literally yesterday. Yeah. And it does.
- [00:39]
C
The stories come out and you're going to hear all the. The characters kind of talk and how we get all the stories out for this. But we're taking it back from the beginning, right? Like, drafted number two overall.
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A
Who's number one that year?
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B
Mark Appelweiss. Wow. From Stanford.
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A
Wow.
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C
Pitcher, too. Houston, right?
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A
Pitcher.
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B
Houston. Houston.
- [00:59]
A
Yeah.
- [00:59]
B
Yep. It was kind of weird. Like, I. I guess during that time, I knew. I knew I wasn't going to be the first pick. It was like it was the. Definitely two or three. And I was like, cubs in the Rockies. Which is so weird that I'm. I've found the Rockies to be on both Rockies. But. Yeah, that was that 13 years ago now.
- [01:21]
A
Wow. So, yeah, I remember when you got drafted. Him, Chris and I didn't get off to the best start in our relationship. According to your lens, right?
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B
Yeah, for sure.
- [01:31]
A
I was. When you get drafted, you come in usually as a high draft pick. KB comes in and he takes batting practice with us and, you know, you. You bring him in, you ask him what they signed for. And what'd you sign for?
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B
Slot.
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A
Slot money. But his slot. But his slot. We made him say the exact number. And it was. It was a high amount.
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C
Right.
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A
And he said it to the decimal.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Right. And I. I was giving him a little bit of crap. And later on in our relationship, he told me, like, you're so mean to me. When you first came.
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B
Yeah, yeah. You. You. I think you were the hot shot. I mean, you didn't. You just sign your extension, too? You're. You were feeling yourself a little bit.
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C
Everybody was rich.
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A
That's nice.
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B
But it wasn't just like, you weren't just like, right next to me. It was like you were across the whole clubhouse.
- [02:13]
A
You made sure everybody heard. God.
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C
I was loud talking. You loud talking.
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B
And then now playing with you for seven years is like. And you still would do that, but in a.
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A
In a good way.
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B
In a good way.
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A
I learned that from the best, though.
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C
Were you guys one of the best?
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A
One of the best. Compliments. I've ever gotten is Garrett Cole goes, I don't understand why everyone loves you so much. You can literally yell at someone, tell them to basically go themselves, and they walk away smiling. And I'm like, yeah, I learned that from the best David Ross.
- [02:41]
C
Well, we didn't get off to. I remember the first start. I'm in. I'm in spring training in 15, and I just gotten there, and I'm calling him CB for Chris Bryant for like a first week. And finally he calls me over and he's like, hey, Rossi, my name, Chris, is spelled with a K. I was like, can you wait a week to tell me?
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B
You.
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C
You son of a gun.
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A
You know that you were probably the
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B
first guy I played with, like, with a full beard that was gray. I just came out of college.
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C
That is.
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B
I was literally thinking about this the other day. I was like, so I'm just used to playing with 21 year old, like, in college, and then you get drafted, then you get thrown right into big league spring training. And then there's a bunch of old guys like.
- [03:23]
C
Like me. Yeah, I was old.
- [03:24]
B
Yeah, but it's 38, dude. I was like, I didn't know how to talk to you. Like, I obviously could relate to you more because you were younger, but then, like, you. And then Lester was there, and I'm like, I don't know what to say to these.
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A
First big champ. Yeah. First big league champions league. Not a big league.
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B
No, it wasn't. 14 was my first big league game.
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A
14 was. Yeah. Yeah.
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C
Because Scotty got that in the contract. Scotty B. Got that in the contract. Got to get. Got to get the first round.
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B
I guess if you're the second pick, you should be in.
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C
You should be. Well, then, remember the training room. This is one of my favorite stories. He was. I hear about this Chris Bryant guy. He's got all these minor league homers and stuff. And I think we were in the training room together getting all our physicals and stuff, and you were landing on the table, and I walked in, and I'm just like, how many. How many homers you hit last year?
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B
No, no, it was in spring.
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C
In spring.
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B
I was. It was 2015. I was doing great.
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C
How many homers you have? How many homers do you have in the minor leagues year before?
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B
Like, 43 or something. But no, I was hitting all the homers in spring. And, like, I was like, I'm doing really good. This is good. Trying to try and keep my head down and not like.
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A
And I'm just.
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B
I think I was like taping my wrist before a game and I had like eight or eight home runs that time. At the time in this, in spring.
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A
And you're like, hey, C.B.
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B
how many home runs you got? And I was like, eight. And you're, and you loud laughed across the whole training room. You're like, haha, no, you don't, you got zero. You haven't hit any of the show yet. And then you walked out, you walked out into the weight room. And I'm like, yeah, I don't, I
- [04:52]
A
remember, I don't think we ever did this. But when you finally, when you passed him on home runs, I, I noted, I wanted to call you and be like, hey, you're in the rearview mirror.
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C
Rearview mirror. Yeah, I rode that for a while. It's hard for a backup catcher to rip the, the superstars on the team, so I had to find my little angles.
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A
It was not.
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C
I gotta find my little, that's one
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B
of my favorite, like, baseball stories though. Just like you doing that, like, not like you didn't do it in like a malicious way. Yeah, I was like, you like put me into, you're like, yeah, I don't, I haven't done anything yet in this game, you know.
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A
Yeah.
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B
And it was like, yeah, that's my job. But then you, you lightened up on me.
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C
A little humble. Because you're a mvp.
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A
You gotta, you know, the one thing
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C
I learned, well, the one thing I learned as a veteran, and you guys can relate to this, being in the game for as long as you have. Like, I came in getting ripped in a, sometimes a negative way by certain guys. You end up hating those guys. And then it made me go into a shell rather than like, you get the best out of your teammates when you lift them. You know, you got to give them a hard time and, and do some, you know, rookie hazing. But if you, you make everybody comfortable, like, hey, we're all in this together, you know, it makes it where you guys can perform and relax and go be the best version of yourself.
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A
You never really, I mean, the only stuff you got was like, playful banter. But it was never like, no.
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B
Also too, I mean, I think, I guess I, I, I don't know how you guys viewed me, but I feel like I had a different personality to some of the other guys. Like, I was more reserved. Like, I was, I've never been the loud, loud type of guy. And like, I was all always really hard on myself. And I think, I think they kind of shown through like you guys Been around me and when I'm struggling, you're like, yeah, that guy.
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C
Like, you're always hard on yourself.
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B
It wasn't like. It wasn't like, he was just. I was just going out there being like, oh, whatever. I went over for, like, I wanted to do good every.
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C
You talked about the five for five.
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A
Oh, yeah.
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C
Thing. Like, getting in his five for five,
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A
three home runs, two doubles. First time in, like, history of the game or something. And we were talking afterwards, and he's like, hey. He's like, I expect to do that every night.
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B
Yeah.
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A
And I'm like, oh,
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C
I know my
- [07:00]
A
competitive mentality, but knowing you, and it wasn't in, like, an arrogant or cocky way. It was just like, you know, every night you show up to the park, you could hit five home runs in a game if you play. Right. And yeah, no, like, the mentality you always took and that's why you were.
- [07:17]
B
But also, too, like, I think there's a fine line there. Right. Like, also, too. I think that's a little bit of my downfall, too, is, like, being that hard on myself. Like, it. It doesn't let you enjoy the moment as much as you should. Right. Like, so after that game, like, I just had a historic game, and I'm
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A
like, well, that was our job. That was our job.
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B
Yeah, you guys helped me. But then I'm like, I'm already looking forward to the next game. Like, how. But I mean, well, there is a balance.
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C
There's a balance, and I think this goes over to life. Right? The balance of, like, working really hard, high expectations. And as. As much as we want perfection and knowing it's unattainable, but striving for that and being also forgive yourself. It's like, you know, find the positive in an over five game when you play great defense and, you know, so enough stress playing behind Johnny Lester and John Lackey, I mean, we could get to those stories, but, man.
- [08:04]
B
But it's like something we remember. We had always thought, like, I was hitting second, you're hitting third. We're in, like, the ninth inning. Like, we see ourselves at, like, five and six, and we're like, we want that fifth at bat. Like, we're psyching ourselves out. Like, because, like, you're over four with three Ks. No baseball player wants that fifth at bat. Like, but we're. Me and you are constantly going back for, like, we need it. We want this at bat. We want this at bat.
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A
Yes. You get that hit, it's seems. Rolls over to the next day.
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B
Yeah.
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C
And That's a mental thing about being at the top of the lineup. That the eight hole here, that gets pinch hit for when you're down.
- [08:35]
A
Oh, you started playing that game in the third. Like, oh, I hit him up already. Like, damn, I might get six today. Yeah. Right. And. But that's the respect for the leadoff hitters is, like, in the top of the lineup, guys, like, there's five at bats every day where you're hitting seventh or eighth, you can kind of hide and maybe sneak in three. If you go one for three, it's a great day. Right.
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C
One for three with a walk.
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A
So it's.
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C
Yeah, I'm shooting the walking and a W. 15 years.
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A
When you. When you came up spring training, you go off, you. They. They hold you back. Yeah. For whatever reason. That's a.
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B
That was wild.
- [09:11]
A
The. The whole service time thing. Manipulated your service time, 100 collusion, whatever you want to call it. But when you came up, we needed you. So a lot of times you see these guys get called up to bad teams, and it's like they kind of get exiled. The prospects, like, they're like, on their own island where when you got called up, we needed you. And, like, we were excited because you were making our team better.
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B
Yeah.
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A
And for you, I always wondered, well, I kind of know, but how was that for you? Because first overall or second overall pick, Golden Spikes award winner, minor league player of the year.
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C
Billboards outside of Wrigley.
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A
Billboards outside of Wrigley.
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B
Dexter foul.
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A
And I are texting him after a game. Like, there's a big sign saying, worth the wait. The big Adidas sign. And he's in Triple A. He's in Des Moines. And he's like, oh, hey, guys. Thanks.
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B
That was crazy.
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A
What was that like? Like that. Do you put pressure on yourself, but coming into the clubhouse.
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B
Yeah. Well. So, like, I guess it kind of goes back to, like, my mentality is like. Like, I expected that pressure. Like, any team that I was on from club ball through college, like, I was in a position where they needed me. Like, it was just normal baseball to me. Like, I. I would like. I think we all were the best players on our high school and college teams. And, like, they need you there. So we were.
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C
It's not about you guys.
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A
Okay.
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B
Okay.
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A
It's not.
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C
Roast Rossi, Dave. We already got the gray beard old man.
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B
And look your way.
- [10:39]
C
Hey, listen, listen. Smoke and mirrors boys. Get 15 in the show and have rich friends. That's what we're looking for.
- [10:44]
B
But, like, just for me, like, I don't know. It was just kind of normal for me. And just how, like, I played the game, like, I. I expected to be the best every game. So it was like, I get called up, and I'm hitting fourth. James Shields, like. And then I proceeded to go over three strikeouts because I've never faced.
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A
And you took you a while to hit your first homer, right? It's like.
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B
Like a month.
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A
Yeah. Yeah, I remember that.
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C
You remember?
- [11:13]
B
Yeah.
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A
Well, I remember people starting to, like, mount some pressure on you, like, yeah, this guy.
- [11:18]
C
Yeah.
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A
When you get hit.
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B
Homer.
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C
Yeah.
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A
You still got zero.
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C
Guys don't tell anybody what an asshole was. They don't know yet.
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A
How long did it take you think, to settle? Because you made the All Star Game that year.
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C
Yeah. And you're. I mean, the Home Run Derby, Right.
- [11:32]
B
That was fun.
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C
Like, I mean, right on the scene and production and going and.
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B
Yeah. I mean, honestly, there was just. I think I really settled in spring training because I had a great spring, and I got to know a lot of the guys on the team. I got to know you guys, and it was kind of like, okay, I'm going down for a couple week, tune up, and I'll see you guys soon. So, like, you guys did a great, great job in spring, and I was there the whole. I was, like, up until two days before camp broke, and I don't know you. I just felt like the people around me did a good job with, like, getting to know me.
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A
Sending you down made it easier. Yeah. And it happened.
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C
Well, we hung and went to dinners, and, like, we did. We did all the things you were.
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A
Yeah, we were bringing Chris to the big. Because we knew. But it happened. Unfortunate but fortunate. Like, Michael, at the perfect day, broke his arm, Right. Or his hand, something like that. On, like, the exact day Chris was able to get called up, he broke his arm. So it was, like, unfortunate for Michael, who I love. He was a great. So you coming up was, like. It was almost even easier that, like, he wasn't just there and, like, sending him down, because he was doing pretty well, too.
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C
Yeah.
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B
Yeah.
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D
And,
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B
yeah, the whole. That whole, like, grievance thing, too, at the T. Like, it's so funny that how, like, as players, you see things in the media and you're like, wow, that is way blown out of proportion. Like. Like, people say, oh, like, I hate the team and this and that. I was like, dude, I got nothing but respect for Theo and Jed and everybody involved. Like, if I was in their situation, I would have done the same thing.
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A
Like, I have my. I. My service time was manipulated twice.
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B
Yeah. Mine was just more, like, blatant.
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E
Right.
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B
And, like, I had to go through that process of. Of going through the grievance and sitting through. Like, it was like I was in court. I'm like, how to wear a suit and go out to New York and sit in. Which is it? It helped the players a lot.
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A
Right.
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B
Obviously, you're supporting the guys that come after you, but in. In the moment, you're like, dude, I just, like, I don't want them to hate me. Like, I love. I love how they treated me and everything that. My whole time there. So I was just like, dude, it's
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A
crazy how high profile you were then.
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C
Yeah.
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A
And then you go on to win the Rookie of the Year, then you go on to win the mvp, Right. World Series, and then you continue to just keep having 17 was arguably better than 16. Right. So it's, like, crazy, like, how high profile that was. And then it panned out because. Because of that. You're right. But it usually doesn't pan out that way.
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C
When the mix of how we brought on all the young guys, I thought we had such a good. You know, you were. You and Schwarz kind of the last P and I guess Wilson in 16. But, like, some of the young guys that were coming up that had either broke in the year before, like Javi, or that were coming, that were paired with the veterans that brought in, like, me, Lester Lackey, the next year. Hey, where. The next year is over. So next year, some of those stuff. It was just such a good mix of young talent.
- [14:30]
B
Yeah.
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C
And personalities. They all just fit and everybody felt comfortable and took off. When did you know we were good in 15. What did you think? We were really good in 15. Can you think back on that a moment? You're like, man, I don't.
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B
I don't. That's a good question. Because, like, I guess, like, going into that year, no one expected us to win. What do you win? 97 games.
- [14:52]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [14:52]
C
95 games went to the CS.
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B
Yeah.
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C
Yeah.
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B
And it was like, I don't really know a point where I thought we were good. I was. And that was my first year. Like, I didn't know how, like, the playoffs were. I watched it on tv. I didn't know what, like, a playoff share was. I'm, like, going through all these new experiences, but it was cool because I had you guys as the older guys to lean on and then a bunch of the younger guys coming up, too. So it wasn't like I Had a ton of pressure on myself. I mean, I did put a lot of it on myself, but there was other young guys that took it on and. Yeah, I mean, you know.
- [15:23]
A
You know what? I remember distinctly, we talked about this a lot in the game. It's all about perspective. And when you got called up, you took pressure off me, because now the pressure was on you, and I was, you know, the guy, so. But I wanted you to do well because the better you did, the better I did, and the better I did, the better we did. Right. So it's like. But then when if I was scuffling and I would see, like, someone else scuffling, like, around the league or something, remember, we always talk about this, and it's just like, all right, well, I mean, that guy scuffles, too, you know, Or. Yeah, or you. Or the other way, too, where you see, like, this guy's 10 first last 12, and you're like, oh, for. Oh, for your last 12. You're like, I gotta start my.
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C
I gotta catch Goldschmidt.
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A
Right? Yeah. Right. So it's like. But like, on our team, especially being so young, we had this group of superstars that came up, and it was, like, easier for us to all go through our, like, ebbs and flows.
- [16:17]
C
Well, you guys would pick out. I remember Yalls conversations, which is. Yalls relationship is so unique from a guy that came from other teams and bounced around. But, like, two superstars, pretty young in their careers and how y' all worked off each other's like, I just need to get through August with two more home runs. Or I just, you know, I mean, you would pick your little battles of things you were looking at to have this overall big picture when it ends and you impacting some of these young guys, like, hey, just grind through April and May. The wind's blowing in. When it gets the All Star break, wind starts blowing out, we're going to go off, we're going to hit this. Like those little battles that you guys mentored each other, the Brizzo Corporation stuff, right? Let me. Let me. Let me get into one little.
- [16:57]
A
Let me.
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C
My readers. Grandpa Chris can't believe I've got readers, but the Brizzo can't even look at you. Chris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo might have taken the Brizzo thing a bit too far. Both wound up with a batting average of.292.
- [17:10]
A
2016.
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C
2016 on base percentage of.385 each. 39 home runs for KB with 102 RBIs. Rizzo had 32 pumps with 109 RBI, swapping the last digits as BFF.
- [17:24]
B
Like, I didn't know that.
- [17:25]
C
Tell me. I want to know as a young guy is. What I'm getting to is, like, tell me how he impacted you.
- [17:32]
B
Oh, my God. Like. Like, I think the best. Like, some of the best compliments you can get as a teammate is not, like. Not, like, what you say to me or, like. Or, like, oh, your hands are here. You're swinging at this pitch. It's just kind of like how you make someone feel when they're around you. Like, when you're struggling and you need to come to someone. Right. And like, our lockers were right next to each other, and it was like, I couldn't tell you anything that you told me specifically that made me feel a certain way. It was more just like how you made me feel after we spoke about, like, oh, I'm doing great, or I'm doing terrible. I'd always walk away from those conversations, like, dang.
- [18:10]
A
Like, yeah, those are. I feel like we were so relatable. Yeah, right. Like, there was so much pressure, and you put so much pressure on yourself. And I did, too. And, like, I wore it more on my sleeve, where you were a little quieter about it. I wore my sleeve. I feel, like, in a good way. Not, like, slamming stuff.
- [18:29]
C
No, no, no.
- [18:30]
A
Overly. Right. But it's just so relatable where, like, you expect, like, greatness. Right. And, like, that's what we expect every single day. Yeah. And when you're going through it, like, you got to enjoy it, but when you're not going through it, I've learned. I learned early. Like, you have to enjoy that, too, because those. Those sunny. Those cloudy days make you appreciate the sunny days. And, like, I live my career by that 100%. But when we would. When we would talk, it was like, if he was struggling, I was sh. We'd be right next to each other or good or bad. It's just, like, therapeutic. Like, I'm able to talk to someone that I can relate to. Like, yeah, that. At this level of, like, heightening pressure,
- [19:07]
C
mill the order bats big market winning players, everyday players. You guys are carrying a performance. Like I've always said, like, you're not going to be very good if your horses aren't horses that year. Right. If you.
- [19:20]
A
If you were horses that year. Like, our whole team.
- [19:22]
C
You guys have been horses your entire careers. Like, when y' all post, like, let's. And I'm able to sit back, but we're talking about Club house dynamics and interacting with each other. Like, that's all fun and games, getting know your teammates and being a good teammate and all that stuff. But also like, you guys carry a different. Like, no, I have to perform today. I. I play once every five days and call Lester in Chicago. So, like, it's a lot easier for a guy like me to be that fun, energy guy on a day I'm not playing. You guys got to bring it every single day, day, game after night, game, all that stuff. And like, you guys relationship, I thought was like you said, very relatable. And you guys talked each other a lot of good conversations in between a big, small battle.
- [19:59]
A
It was everything. Yeah, yeah, like that, sure. But for me, I think looking back now, like years later is I signed my deal early. I had the confidence, like, I had the guarantee. I had the security. So like, I remember like at and at bats, big situations for me. I'm like, like, I would literally say to myself, and this probably sounds super cocky and arrogant, I'm Anthony fucking Rizzo and if I don't get this done, I'll get it done next time time. And that helped me, like, relax and totally come down in the box. So when KB gets called up, like, all I need to do is I want just him to be the best because I already have my fortune for the next six, seven years. Right. I signed my deal and like, there's no more pressure on me to make money. It's just about winning and like, playing with you. I was able to do that playing with Judge and like, learn so much from playing with you and your status. I get to go play with Judge and like, I know his status or
- [20:57]
C
you hit behind two MVPs.
- [21:00]
B
Right.
- [21:01]
A
Never thought it's not about me.
- [21:02]
C
Yeah, we have to do that every show. It's not about.
- [21:05]
B
Did you ever hit behind Goldschmidt in New York?
- [21:07]
A
No.
- [21:09]
C
Yeah, he got fired.
- [21:10]
A
He got fired?
- [21:11]
C
Yeah, he got fired.
- [21:12]
A
But it's like these superstars are like, they're in such a level that no one could relate to. And for me, I felt like I was close enough to be at that level, which I wasn't to relate to. Come on and help. Just like with all the extracurricular that you have to go through.
- [21:32]
B
Oh, yeah, yeah, that was one thing. Like, for me, the extracurricular stuff. Did I say that? Extracurricular? Just this, like. Like the billboard outside, the, like,
- [21:46]
A
I
- [21:46]
B
had no clue that was going on.
- [21:47]
A
Yeah, you just wanted to play baseball.
- [21:48]
B
Like, that's not my personality to like, be that way. And it's like I had so much, like, extra pressure. Like, and then I was like doing like, I did a Red Bull video, like walking a goat onto a bus.
- [22:03]
A
Oh, yeah, I remember that. Before.
- [22:05]
B
Before I even got called up.
- [22:07]
A
Yeah.
- [22:07]
B
And I'm like. And at the time, maybe I didn't know the history of like the Chicago Cubs.
- [22:13]
A
And like, no, you're a foreshadowing what you're about to do.
- [22:15]
C
Yeah.
- [22:15]
B
But, like, could you imagine if, like, I slipped and the ball went over and like, we never won? And then, like, I did some. Then I had all that other pressure. Like, like, dude, it was just un. Like I look back on it. I'm like, no way I would ever agree to do that.
- [22:31]
C
You know what, though? Like, okay. I love that because you're like, okay, we got all these things before I've even done anything. But the fact is, you won the rookie of the year and you run the MVP when we won the World Series. Like, yeah, you, you.
- [22:43]
B
I follow through with you.
- [22:45]
C
There you go.
- [22:45]
B
There you go.
- [22:46]
C
And that's harder to do. My embracing the target and all that. Right. Harder to do. And you did it. So that's like you could. You can be proud of that now and speak highly of that.
- [22:54]
A
But.
- [22:55]
B
But like, the one thing for me that I wish I might have done differently during those times is talk to you guys about that stuff more rather than just like the day to day of like, sure, oh, I didn't get a hit here. I didn't come through. I didn't get the runner in third. Or lesson two in this situation, it was like more of like the everything.
- [23:10]
C
All the stuff here. Well, that's the difference. Like, looking back, you're talking about how the pressure you put on yourself, you were a head down one perform, had high expectations. I want to play baseball. I love playing baseball. And then all this other stuff is coming with it, which is great. But not if, like, I'm just trying. I have to make a career for myself.
- [23:27]
A
Yeah.
- [23:27]
C
Right.
- [23:27]
B
Yeah.
- [23:27]
A
Yeah.
- [23:28]
B
I have to try to get there and stay there.
- [23:29]
A
Exactly.
- [23:30]
E
And then.
- [23:30]
C
Which is hard to do.
- [23:31]
B
Yeah.
- [23:31]
C
I don't care who you are.
- [23:32]
B
It was, it was a lot. But like, now I look back, it's cool stories to tell my kids and stuff. And we go all.
- [23:37]
C
I fast forward to 15.
- [23:39]
A
Well, 15. The home run Derby. You go to Home Run Derby and your dad throws to you.
- [23:43]
B
Yeah.
- [23:44]
A
And your dad was always your coach. Right. So that for me, even looking back now, I wish I can go back and have my dad there. Yeah. Yeah, that's.
- [23:53]
C
That's really cool.
- [23:53]
B
That was right, like, and this, that was something that, like, because me and him, like, I grew up, we talk, we were talking about that. Like, he was always like, hey, when you make it, you're gonna do the homer derby. I'm pitched to you one day.
- [24:07]
A
That's awesome.
- [24:08]
B
And like, we talked about it in the backyard at my home, right around the corner in the 110 degree heat. Like, he's throwing to me. And we always talked about doing that. And it's like, I never really had a desire to do the homer derby. Like, I don't know, I just didn't really want to do it. But I was, I was, I told my dad, I was like, I'll do this and I want you to pitch to me and I'm never going to do it again. And it was just a cool, it was a cool experience because, like, we were in the clubhouse together. He's. Has his own locker.
- [24:36]
A
He's. Yeah.
- [24:38]
B
It up with all the big too.
- [24:41]
A
Like, Chris's dad was like, he played. If I ever went to. When I was really bad in ruts, I would go to my dad, my mom, and whenever they would tell me, it would usually throw me in a rage, but it would always work. So like, I, I, when I went to him, it was like, strategic because I knew it would work because they always had, like, the good advice, but I didn't like it. But I remember talking to your dad and he'd be like, oh, someone's got to hit 40 this year. Why isn't. Why won't it be you guys? Like, he was always so positive for someone who was also a little kooky. Like, yeah, you told me, like, you get thrown out of games and Little League. Oh my.
- [25:17]
B
He, he was, he was the. Never once did he yell at me when I played baseball. Not one time ever.
- [25:23]
C
That's amazing.
- [25:24]
A
Ever saying.
- [25:24]
B
And that mine.
- [25:25]
A
Yeah.
- [25:25]
B
Like, that's how I'm going to.
- [25:27]
A
That's where I was.
- [25:27]
C
I yell at my kid all the time. He plays football now. Different sport.
- [25:31]
B
Right. Like, but like, he never, like, said, we need to go out and practice. We need to do this. It was always like, I wanted to do that. And like, it's, it's like, that's how I want to teach my kids too. I don't want to yell at them about the game of baseball, like, because then they're never going to come back and play enjoyable.
- [25:46]
C
That's right.
- [25:46]
B
Right. It's got to be fun so it's like, he was always that guy for me. And it's like you were talking about, like, when you're struggling, he would talk to you. You talk to your dad. I have so many. My dad knew when it was really bad to just write me an email.
- [26:01]
A
Yeah, I remember that.
- [26:02]
E
And I. I read.
- [26:03]
B
I would read something.
- [26:03]
C
Your dad wrote you emails?
- [26:05]
B
Probably, bro.
- [26:06]
A
At least 50 email perspective, too. Like, he would, like, go around guys in the league.
- [26:11]
C
I want to read one of those.
- [26:11]
B
I'll let you read them.
- [26:12]
A
This guy Mookie Betts went four for his last 50, and now look where his numbers are at. Or, like, kind of just put you back in, like, a realm. Like, everyone is like, goes through this. Like, you're good.
- [26:24]
C
It's a hard game.
- [26:25]
B
In, like, I saved those. I, like, I made sure to never delete those. I start them all. Like, they're all in, like. Like a that's cool folder that says, like, dad, that's awesome. You know, it's like. Like, I'll have that to basically copy and paste or Mike and I know what. I know what to say now. But, like, he just knew, like, because if I'm talking on the phone, like, I'm not gonna. Like I said, I'm never gonna remember everything you say to me, but I'm gonna remember how you made me feel. And when it was bad, I needed it in writing so that I can go back to it and read it again when I'm bad.
- [26:54]
C
That's amazing.
- [26:55]
B
You know, So I have so many. He would be like, pooh Holst is two for his last 27. That's a future hall of Famer. And he's like, you. You got nine homers over this span. He's got three like, you. You're better than a Hall of Famer. Like, that. That's Albert Pujol.
- [27:10]
C
Great. That's great.
- [27:11]
B
And I. I remember before the five for five game, the three homer, two double game. Like, I was like, was that Cincy? Cincy. I was like, hitting, like, two.
- [27:20]
A
I had three hits that game with a homer.
- [27:22]
C
But how about you?
- [27:24]
B
Again, I was like, 257. I had, like, I don't know, like, 13 homers. And I'm like, dad, that's not good enough. You know, this isn't good enough. He's like, I remember talking before the game, like, I. I need a big game. He's like, you're due. I was like, all right. And then I was due. I had the best game of my life. And then he Just, like, text me. He's like, told ya.
- [27:45]
C
Yeah, it's a good one.
- [27:47]
B
It's just like. I don't know. He. He didn't make it all the way like, we have, but, like, the wisdom that he gained from his time playing, like, he's. He's helped a lot of people, especially me, in baseball, because that's amazing.
- [28:01]
A
It's just coaching, too, in general. Like, it's really. We've had probably over easily over 100, 200 coaches in our career, and there's, like, a handful that you can really take out of all those coaches that helped you and that are like, wow, this one is, like, all of them have helped some part along the way, but there's only a handful where you're just like, he made a huge.
- [28:24]
C
Well. And who knows you more better than your parents? They've watched every pitch. They've watched. You know what I mean? Like, and your dad's been in the cage and watched you evolve and go on your journey. And, like, to go back to those perspectives and him keeping it real is. That's just a power. That's a. It's a great resource to have. I think a lot of people have. That's a blessing.
- [28:40]
A
Our parents, too. Mike Bryant and John Rizzo were two peas in a pod. Like, the Wrigley Field. I don't know if Wrigley Field ushers or security hate to see them coming or love to see them coming, because they would just bounce all over the walls. They had no credentials. They just walked in like they owned the place every time.
- [28:57]
B
They might have more fun our time together than we did.
- [29:00]
A
Yeah.
- [29:00]
C
Honestly, as they should.
- [29:02]
B
Like, playing the harmonica on the corner. My. Like, they were talking about, like, getting, like, renting out a bar. Like someone hiring them to perform a gig.
- [29:12]
A
Yeah.
- [29:12]
B
At a bar. I'm like, dad, you're not doing. You're not performing on the corner at Wrigley Field. Saying, I'm.
- [29:17]
A
I know Katie and Riz's dad.
- [29:20]
B
They'll be putting their. Like, their guitar thing out for begging
- [29:23]
A
for money and all that.
- [29:24]
B
Like, dad, you can't do that. Like, you're just. But I don't know. It's just. It was a fun time for them.
- [29:31]
C
You look back on 15, rookie of the year, and you're like, all right, it's a good start.
- [29:38]
F
Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the Enhanced Games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all embedded in the games and and with the athletes for a full year.
- [29:55]
C
Within probably 10 days, I'd put on £10. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.
- [30:02]
F
Listen to Superhuman on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [30:08]
G
Do you remember when Diana Ross double tapped little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people? I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with little Kim? Will you come? You can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam J.
- [30:23]
E
And I'm Alex English.
- [30:25]
G
Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it.
- [30:30]
E
Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but yeah, yeah, but just so y' all know, I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a three.
- [30:47]
G
We also have A's on the table
- [30:49]
E
right now, so thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [31:08]
D
My mother in law spent years sabotaging our relationship until karma made her pay for it.
- [31:13]
B
Wait a minute, Dakota, how bad did it get?
- [31:16]
D
Well, it got bad enough that her son in law had to event arrest her himself. She moved in for two weeks, lasted for five. She left nail clippings in the bathtub, candy stuck to the furniture, and then she pressed her ear against the bedroom door and burst in screaming. She did not burst in. While they were. She did. They kicked her out and paid for her hotel and they thought it's finally over. Days later, she called her son in law at work claiming that his partner had been in some kind of freak accident and had been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He called every hospital in the city and his partner was making coffee the entire time.
- [31:47]
B
She faked a medical emergency just to test whether or not he loved her son.
- [31:52]
D
Yeah, and she sat in the hospital parking lot waiting for him to see if he would show up. When that didn't work, she walked into the son in law's police station and filed a kidnapping report against him.
- [32:01]
B
She filed a kidnapping report against him in his own police station.
- [32:06]
D
Spoilers Karma's gonna show up in the best way possible. So if you want to hear how this story ends, search OK Storytime on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening to podcasts.
- [32:17]
G
The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection this Mental Health Awareness Month. Tune into the podcast Deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self discovery, discovery and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace and self mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected, we're becoming more individualized, but we actually need people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you. To hear more. Listen to Deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [33:17]
B
Yeah, for sure.
- [33:19]
A
We get swept in nlcs, you win the Rookie of the Year, where are you at?
- [33:24]
B
Well, so I guess the two of those for sure are separate. Like being in the playoffs, like my first time, I'm just like had no clue what to expect. The crowds are a little bit different. There's just a different feel, you know what I mean? Like, it feels like the grass is cut a little better, the dirt's a little more and you know it's right. Am I?
- [33:42]
C
Yeah, no. The lights are brighter, the energy is better. No doubt.
- [33:44]
B
The paint is fresh, the lines are straighter.
- [33:46]
A
Yeah.
- [33:46]
C
Got new hoodies.
- [33:47]
B
Yeah.
- [33:49]
C
Like swag.
- [33:50]
B
It was like, yeah, like this is fun baseball. Like that was. I just was along for the ride there. Like I. And none of us expected us to go that far. So that was a good experience for me. But for and then during the season, winning Rookie of the Year, it was like, I remember when I got called up, I was like, there's only one award you can win in this game and you can only do it in one year. And that's the Rookie of the Year. And I was like, that's a good goal, you know?
- [34:18]
C
And so that was a goal you set?
- [34:21]
A
Absolutely, bro.
- [34:22]
C
Sick.
- [34:23]
A
I I always told every, every single rookie that ever gets called up, I go, you only have one first pitch to hit a home run in the big league Zone. I'm like, it's up to you if you can try to do it.
- [34:31]
C
We'll see.
- [34:31]
A
Yeah, we'll see. I probably 100 said that.
- [34:35]
B
You probably did. And yeah. And back to James Shields. Like, I. Oh, for four, three strikeouts. And I think I struck out on.
- [34:43]
A
I remember too. And everyone was like, well, this is who he called up.
- [34:46]
C
James Shields had a nasty shot.
- [34:47]
B
I never faced a right on my
- [34:49]
C
chain in the minor. So it's like a screwball.
- [34:51]
B
Yeah.
- [34:51]
A
You had a home run later off in your career often, didn't you? Or no. Was the All Star Game.
- [34:57]
B
No, that was Chris Sale in the All Star Game.
- [34:59]
A
That's what I know.
- [35:00]
C
I wanted to ask. And this is. This is like, for young kids watching and about approach. I remember your first spring training hitting on the fields with you, and you're hitting homers over the batter's eye like nobody's business. I'm like, oh, my God, this kid's ball just doesn't come down. And I asked you about what you're trying to do in bp, said, I just want to hit high fly balls to center field. High fly ball. And in my mind I'm like, yeah, no, duck. Because you hit them further and they never come down. Like, great approach. But I had never heard that. Like, how did you get to that. That kind of routine? Mvp.
- [35:32]
B
Well, it goes back to just working with my dad and just angles. And the game has changed a lot since then. Right? Sure. A lot of people are throwing heaters at the top, and I had to adjust to that, which we could talk to later. But like, it was like, everybody. The pitcher's releasing it from here and it's coming down at an angle. So you want your bat to come up with it and hit it on the plane. Get on plane. So it wasn't necessarily like hitting fly balls, just getting on plane with it and it produced the fly ball.
- [36:00]
C
Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay, cool. That always blew my mind.
- [36:03]
A
He did Bob's backside that first spring trainer in 15. Farther than I could pull the ball.
- [36:09]
B
And that's where my power was. Like, all through college in the minors was to right field. But then you get to Wrigley and the winds. There's no homers for righties to right field there, no right death. And I had to adjust. And everybody was throwing me sinkers inside or trying to get in on my hands because I'm a long lever. So I was like, I need to figure out how to pull the ball without the top spin. You know, I need to get it?
- [36:31]
C
You. A lot of tossing when you pull the bar early on. I remember that.
- [36:34]
B
Right. And I'd be so frustrated when I was hitting topspin line drives and this and that. And then my dad. I would always go to my dad, and I'm like, dad, why. Why am I top spinning every ball? He's like, did you get a hit on it? I'm like, yeah. He's like, why are you complaining? You know? Like, that's how I. That's how I think. I'm just.
- [36:53]
C
Yeah.
- [36:54]
B
I'm trying to be perfect.
- [36:54]
C
Break it down, everything.
- [36:55]
B
Like, I just. Like a pitch inside that. I think I should have done more within a top spin liner and sigil. Like, I just beat myself up over it, you know? Yeah. But I had it.
- [37:03]
C
That's where that perfection can be positive and negative.
- [37:06]
A
Yeah. Well, when you're. I remember, and I don't want to forget this, the quote. But your dad with, like, comparing everyone and stuff and, like, perspective. I remember you told me this quote, and I still use this day. Comparison is the thief of all joy. Yep.
- [37:20]
B
Yep.
- [37:20]
A
Because when you compare. Try to compare yourself to be like someone else or do something else, you're literally losing the joy of why you're here, of being a kid. And, like, that's everything in life, right?
- [37:31]
B
Like, everything. It's.
- [37:32]
C
Speaking of joy, 2016 spring training, we started the Grandpa Rossi account at dinner. We're like, steak 44. Yeah, steak 44. And I'm giving you guys. Because you guys were young and hip, and I'm like, the old guy with three.
- [37:48]
A
We knew it was your last year, right? Yep. And you were so monumental to me, where I was at my career, and instantly for him. So coming in, it was like, we wanted to celebrate you, right?
- [38:01]
B
Yep.
- [38:02]
A
And we're coming in to 16. Like, the Brizzo Souvenir co. We're doing commercials. Like, I felt like we were, like, player one and two in the big leagues at the time. Right. Like, it was. We were, like, rock stars, honestly.
- [38:14]
B
Yeah.
- [38:15]
A
So we're doing these commercials. We're celebrating you. It's just, like, the overall vibes. But the GrandParossi account, I get there, elevated your career, so it's made me some money.
- [38:25]
C
So that's nice. It's definitely done. That's. Well, then I got. We had that conversation at dinner where we're kind of making fun of you. Like, I remember KB going, you know, I'm gonna start you an Instagram account. And then, sure enough, the next morning, he shows it to me. He's like, hey, you got 30,000 followers. It's like in however many. It's not even 24 hours. And then we started making Big Jim started making all those things. And so far, now I've got half a million, though.
- [38:49]
A
Those are the things that help you get through.
- [38:52]
C
People, they know me when I walk through around, really, it's like, hey, grandpa. Hey, grandpa. Yeah, like, it's like, hilarious, people. I'm glad you.
- [39:00]
B
I, like, in the moment, I was like, I'm calling this guy a grandpa, and he's like, 36. Like, some of you, you were.
- [39:07]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [39:08]
B
No, that just.
- [39:09]
C
But it's like, it was an endearing thing because it reminds me of going back to that. And I was the. I was like the dad of the team. You know, I played once a week. I was like, doing the Lester thing and just trying to be along for the ride with the boys, you know,
- [39:20]
A
like, you were the ultimate mentor.
- [39:22]
B
Yeah, for sure.
- [39:23]
A
That's not 100. You were. You were the ultimate perspective.
- [39:26]
C
Like, well, winning in Boston helped me have, like, this perspective of, like, man, it's just about bringing your lunch pail to work every single day with the boys and going to work right. Like, there's no. There's no glamour in, like, the glamour comes after the performance of winning and all that stuff. Like, you just got to get in there and, like, believe in yourself. And.
- [39:43]
A
Because when I remember when I would be frustrated with the team and stuff, I would talk to you and you'd be like, now we're fine. We just, like, look like they just missed a couple of spots or the pictures aren't like. Or the hitters. Like, we got to get back to grinding at bats. And see, and every time you said that, I was like, all right. You made me feel so much better about, like, the whole team grinding.
- [40:02]
C
Yeah, because you learned the small victories, I think in, like, success is like, just stay to the pitch, to pitch and those little, like, you know, yeah, we start slumping, everybody's up there swinging the first pitch. Like, yeah, we're not going to get out of it because you're, you know, like, you got to have your bats and let this thing evolve. And, you know, we all have these philosophies on winning and stuff, but, like, the stuff I've learned was like, it's really the small, fundamental details every single day and trying to get everybody to buy into just back that concentration, having some fun, not beating yourself up. You know what the other guy gave us, like, he only gave up two hits today. And we got beat by a great pitching performance. Like, move on. You know what I mean? Like, we didn't beat ourselves. I was a big one. Like, if we don't beat ourselves, like, the other team beats us, then just come back the next day, we start beating yourselves. Those are bad teams, you know, losing games that you should win.
- [40:51]
A
And two, what I loved about us is, like, I wanted to be better than you, and you wanted to be better than me. But it wasn't, like, rooting for anyone's downfall.
- [41:03]
C
No.
- [41:03]
A
It was, like, this healthy, like, competition. And I remember distinctively going to the All Star Game, right? And we're in a rut going into the All Star. 16, 16. And I went like. I'm not kidding. I went like, 10 for my last 12 going to the break. I went from, like 280 to 299 at the break, right? And we're all in the outfield, and we're all talking, like, all the Cubs guys. And Harold Reynolds comes up to me, hey, Riz. How you doing, man? Like, good to see you. And he goes right to kb and, like, at our time, our numbers were, like, nearly identical. Like, I don't know whose was better, honestly. He's. Man, what you're doing this year, KB is fucking.
- [41:41]
B
Holy shit.
- [41:42]
A
It's so good to see you. And I'm. I'll never forget. I'm just sitting there like, okay, okay, okay.
- [41:48]
B
All right.
- [41:48]
A
Yeah.
- [41:49]
C
Give a little handy to the young guy.
- [41:51]
A
God damn, bro.
- [41:52]
C
Like, I'm like, God dang, bro. I got that.
- [41:56]
A
But, like, that's another beauty of, like, the whole brizzo thing. It was like. It was never hostile. It was just like, you made me better.
- [42:02]
B
Yeah.
- [42:03]
A
Like, every day.
- [42:04]
B
So you probably hated when I first got called up and we were at Gibson's. You remember this?
- [42:09]
A
Eating.
- [42:10]
B
Oh, my God.
- [42:10]
A
We were with. We were with Lundy, right?
- [42:12]
B
I think so. I don't. It was either just me and you,
- [42:14]
A
or we went to dinner on, like, the first off day or lunch. It was lunch.
- [42:18]
B
And someone comes up to me. It's like, hey, Chris, like, congrats. Like, you know, welcome to Chicago. Like, can I get a picture with you? And I'm like, sure, yeah. And. And he hands the phone to Riz, like, can you.
- [42:28]
A
I take the picture.
- [42:30]
B
He didn't want him in.
- [42:32]
C
Well, that's like us walking around Las Vegas Yesterday. It's like, 15 selfies for this guy, and some guy gets in the elevator. He's like, oh, my God. Anthony Rizzo. Oh, my God. And they're, like, in there for 15 minutes. We get up to our floor, and I walk out. He's like, oh, hey, Rossi. I was like, dang it.
- [42:46]
A
Dang it.
- [42:47]
C
Yeah.
- [42:47]
A
But that's, like, what also made our team so good, was, like, that, like, we all wanted to, like, perform. Yeah. Because, like, any. Any given day, someone's going off, and you were going with the best of them.
- [42:59]
B
And sure, like, yeah, it was obviously the best year of my career, but it was, you know, it wasn't just me and you. I don't know.
- [43:05]
A
17 was.
- [43:06]
B
I think you can say by war, it wasn't or whatever. Stupid stat.
- [43:09]
C
Well, let's talk about that. Like, that reminds me. Like, bro, you played great third base, but we moved Javi in there, and you moved, like, with Schwarber going down, like, we had all that stuff happen.
- [43:19]
A
The ultimate. You're the greatest utility player of all time.
- [43:23]
B
Ah, that's Ben Z. Yeah.
- [43:24]
C
I got Ben. Set the standard. You were the best version. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
- [43:29]
A
The fact that you can go play left. You played center that year, didn't you?
- [43:33]
C
Yeah.
- [43:33]
A
You played right game.
- [43:35]
B
Fourth or fifth game, bro.
- [43:36]
A
And you were elite at every position.
- [43:38]
C
Sneaky, sneaky inside job. When I got the managerial job, want to move you to center and just play center all the time.
- [43:43]
A
And Theo wouldn't let me. Really Sneaky.
- [43:45]
C
Yeah. Yeah, I was.
- [43:47]
B
Dude, I just.
- [43:48]
C
I like, you take, like, five steps and cover the hole. It's like. Yeah, it's like a. It's not. It's like a slow twitch version of like Dex, you know? I mean, like, you got that long gliding. Yeah, you. Same thing. You cover a shit ton of ground. You're so big.
- [43:59]
B
Yeah. For me, like, I. I don't. I don't know. Joe came up to me in my. Like, my fifth game, I think we were in Pittsburgh. He's like, hey, can you play center field? I'm like, I wasn't gonna say no, you know?
- [44:11]
A
Yeah, of course.
- [44:12]
C
Manager asked you to do something, like, sure.
- [44:14]
B
So it was like, I went out there, played center field. I might have got a couple fly balls. And then. And then it just kind of took off. And Joe was like, all right, I'm gonna put you here, here, here. And I was like, all right. All right.
- [44:24]
A
You loved that, though.
- [44:24]
B
I did, yeah. It kept me. It kept me like.
- [44:27]
A
You know, some guys don't like it.
- [44:28]
B
No.
- [44:29]
A
But you. I remember you like, it kept me
- [44:31]
B
more engaged, you know? Like, I never. Like, if you're just batting second and playing third every day you're kind of in. It's 162 game season. You're kind of getting a lull. You're like, all right, I'm just going through the motions. But like Joe would have me starting the game in the left and then I had to come in and play third and then, you know, moving me all. I mean, I played first a couple times when you had a day off, which wasn't many times, but yeah, I just. I don't know, I embraced it and it was fun. While that last.
- [44:56]
C
161 in 16.
- [44:58]
A
161.
- [45:01]
B
Okay.
- [45:01]
A
Yeah. It's not about you. Yeah.
- [45:02]
C
I just make sure we get in.
- [45:04]
B
The day you had off wasn't. Or you had a day off. When Lester was pitching, I had a few days off.
- [45:09]
A
I think I got in a couple games.
- [45:10]
C
He was so.
- [45:11]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [45:12]
C
Remember that Lester's get pissed. Lester's. Lester and Lackey is like funny. Like as much as I love those guys and got two rings because of them and you guys.
- [45:19]
A
But like they, they.
- [45:22]
C
They're intimidating. Like they. It's like, you better bring it. Their day. I think that's where I got my anger from on my day where I played. It's like not gonna. We're not losing on my day.
- [45:32]
A
John, John. I don't know if it was John or Joe, but was basically demanding Javi play third because John always got ground balls at third.
- [45:38]
C
Cut her in.
- [45:39]
A
Right. So yeah. If when KB played third with Lester, you, you. It was like you knew Jon was already on edge.
- [45:45]
B
Cuz John hated me.
- [45:48]
C
I know he didn't.
- [45:50]
B
No.
- [45:50]
C
But.
- [45:51]
B
No, there's something. I was. I wasn't scared, but I was like. I didn't want to let them down.
- [45:54]
C
Yeah, right. Yeah. That's the thing. You don't want to let it go down.
- [45:57]
B
John's throwing cutters in a lot of the time and a lot of you don't know if he leaves one out over they're going to smoke one at you or they jam you like you never out. It's going to be a slow roller. It's going to be a hot shot. It's like throw me in the outfield.
- [46:09]
C
Joe proud of the product of it. It's like I wanted Javi at second base field in every ball I threw down because he was a freaking wizard down there. And like he'd get in there, you know, those one guys give the alligator arm. I've played with on other teams. You're like, you know, come on, guy, risk your life. For everybody. One put out. It's just how use your competitive nature coming out.
- [46:26]
B
Yeah.
- [46:26]
A
Do you know what? You know what I love, too? When we did bump defenses, like, with the pitcher bunting, it got to a point, literally, where Chris and I would just look at each other and just be like, head nod. We knew exactly, like, if the ball was super hard at him or like, he knew what I was doing, and it wasn't like I had to tell him. He just knew.
- [46:45]
B
Yeah.
- [46:45]
A
And it was like, it was a cheat.
- [46:46]
B
It was a cheat code. Yeah. That play.
- [46:48]
C
It was a cheat code. We. They like.
- [46:51]
B
It was like the tush push, how
- [46:52]
C
good he was at first base coming in. Like. Yeah. It kind of negated a lot of that. I want to. I want to go. We brought this up. But like, Rizzo's 30 statue when you're in the infield.
- [47:03]
A
Remember that three. Oh, he's the only one.
- [47:08]
B
No.
- [47:08]
A
Who would give us a little bit of a fit about it.
- [47:11]
B
Yeah. Because the one time they hit the
- [47:13]
A
ball or swing three never got burned on it.
- [47:16]
B
I don't care.
- [47:17]
A
Not one time.
- [47:17]
C
We've done it over games. We were talking about that with Addie, who's like. He was just like, yeah, man. We just like. It was our little game at risk, like, looking at everybody just.
- [47:26]
A
Just so on it. Yeah. Hands on the knees on three accounts when we're playing defense. I would whistle over to everyone, right. And I would just widen my stance and anchor down. And no matter what happened on that pitch, I was not moving. I wasn't getting ready for the pitch because you knew the batter was taking and the whole infield started doing it. It was a unity thing. And you did it. I would say 90% of the time.
- [47:51]
B
Did I?
- [47:52]
A
Yeah.
- [47:52]
B
But I wasn't good enough of an infielder.
- [47:54]
A
10% of the time, he didn't do good infield. We'd all be looking over. These guys are bulk lovers.
- [47:59]
C
Yeah.
- [47:59]
A
We'd be like, what the you doing?
- [48:01]
C
Yeah.
- [48:01]
A
And then what he did do, we give him, like, little golf clap. We'd all give a little golf clap.
- [48:04]
B
I hate it.
- [48:05]
A
Again, those are things within the game that no one.
- [48:08]
C
His personality coming out.
- [48:10]
B
I'm a perfectionist. I wanted to be. Which sucks.
- [48:13]
C
But that's what.
- [48:14]
A
Another thing too, though. Like, you gotta try to have that.
- [48:18]
C
Enjoy the moment.
- [48:19]
A
You talking about.
- [48:20]
C
Yeah. Take.
- [48:20]
A
We got burned.
- [48:21]
B
And even if I didn't do it in my head, I'm like, I did. This is fun. Like the playoffs.
- [48:26]
A
Like, I still did that in the Playoffs, you know, when a guy's swinging it on, right? Like, probably. I never got burned on it. I. So I. I guess I can talk about it. If I did get burned on it, it would be a different story, probably
- [48:36]
B
when telling it, but it's different when you're playing. First, you just have to feel the ball and touch the bag. I have to feel it and throw it to you.
- [48:42]
A
That's a good point.
- [48:43]
C
We got to get to get to clenching. Clenching in 16, going to the postseason. You've had a great year. Both you guys had great years. What was that when we came.
- [48:57]
A
When.
- [48:57]
C
When we finally clinched. Did you ever picture us winning the World Series?
- [49:03]
B
Well, I think the thing that year that was so unique about that was that I think we kind of expected to.
- [49:11]
C
Right?
- [49:11]
B
In a way.
- [49:12]
C
Like, we would always training.
- [49:14]
B
We'd always talk about, like. Remember the conversations we had? We'd be like, dude, when we win it this year, like, they're gonna have to helicopter us off the field.
- [49:20]
A
Yeah.
- [49:21]
B
Remember that?
- [49:21]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [49:22]
B
They didn't have to which.
- [49:23]
A
But damn, they went to the World Series. The party at Wrigley nlcs. It's like, we won the World Series when we advance every day.
- [49:32]
B
Dude, we talk about that all the time. Or, like, remember, like, I just for me personally, like, Travis would always be on me. Like, dude, you gotta drink if we win the World Series.
- [49:42]
A
Yeah, I remember.
- [49:43]
B
You gotta do it. And we like bartender.
- [49:46]
C
That's what we talked about.
- [49:47]
B
He's a team bartender throughout the whole year. Like, we going on winning streaks.
- [49:51]
A
And he's just like, he said he would drink. You did say it.
- [49:55]
B
I did say that.
- [49:56]
A
And we would take shots after sweeps. We sometimes take some shots before the games or whatnot. KB would always have be there, like with his little water shot.
- [50:04]
F
Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes.
- [50:19]
B
For a full year, within probably 10
- [50:22]
C
days, I'd put on £10.
- [50:24]
B
I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.
- [50:27]
F
Listen to Superhuman on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [50:34]
G
Do you remember when Diana Ross double tapped little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people? I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with little Kim? Well, you can find out on the look Back at It Podcast. I'm Sam J.
- [50:49]
E
And I'm Alex English.
- [50:50]
G
Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it, including
- [50:56]
E
a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but yeah, but just so y' all know, I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line.
- [51:13]
G
We also have a on the table
- [51:15]
E
right now, so thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [51:34]
D
My mother in law spent years sabotaging our relationship until karma made her pay for it.
- [51:39]
B
Wait a minute, Dakota, how bad did it get?
- [51:41]
D
Well, it got bad enough that her son in law had to aveng arrest her himself. She moved in for two weeks, lasted for five. She left nail clippings in the bathtub, candy stuck to the furniture and then she pressed her ear against the bedroom door and burst in screaming. She did not burst in. While they were they kicked her out and paid for her hotel and they thought it's finally over. Days later, she called her son in law at work claiming that his partner had been in some kind of freak accident and had been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He called every hospital in the the city and his partner was making coffee the entire time.
- [52:12]
B
She faked a medical emergency just to
- [52:15]
D
test whether or not he loved her son. Yeah, and she sat in the hospital parking lot waiting for him to see if he would show up. When that didn't work, she walked into the son in law's police station and filed a kidnapping report against him.
- [52:27]
B
She filed a kidnapping report against him in his own police station. Spoilers.
- [52:32]
D
Karma's gonna show up in the best way possible. So if you want to hear how this story ends, search okay story time on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you're listening to Podcasts.
- [52:43]
E
If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know that's a lot to break down.
- [52:49]
B
Portia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a married man. They holding K. Michelle back from fighting. Drew Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show.
- [52:59]
A
I think it looks like it's going to be interesting.
- [53:02]
E
On the podcast Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the tea everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this at the end of the
- [53:25]
B
day, when people are at home, they want entertainment.
- [53:29]
E
To hear this and more. Listen to reality with the king on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [53:38]
B
Yep. I was. I was.
- [53:40]
C
You got a favorite game from 16. Well, favorite moment. What's it like? You look back or the games you tell your buddies about?
- [53:49]
B
I mean, the person. The five or five game, obviously, but, like, in the playoffs, like, there's. It's kind of weird, right? Because, like, you forget a lot over 10 years, right? Like, it's been.
- [54:04]
C
That's why we're doing this.
- [54:05]
B
It was just that you got. And I. A lot of stuff is coming back to me, but, like, I don't know. I think my favorite one in the playoffs for me probably would have been the game five. Like, the homer time. The game. Just because I told you guys last night, too, what I was going through before that night.
- [54:21]
C
Like, sure. Well, that's what I was. I was gonna bring that up. Like, your mom. You're with your mom in the hospital all night?
- [54:25]
B
Yeah, she. I don. Yeah, she had some type of, like, upper respiratory thing. And I'm sure a lot of people's families were. Because they were with us.
- [54:33]
A
The Grinder.
- [54:35]
B
Yeah. So it's like, dude, they're screaming in the stands like it's cold. Like, yeah, so my mom was sick, and she's just like, I need to. I need to. I need to go get something. So we went to, like, the ER urgent care at Northwestern at, like, 5 in the morning, and I was there till, like, 7 in the morning with my mom. And we had. That was before game five.
- [54:53]
A
Before game five. We're down three one.
- [54:54]
B
Yeah.
- [54:55]
A
But we're about to lose the world.
- [54:56]
B
And like, in my mind, I'm like, like, you want to say you believe that you're a company. We're down three one. Like, it's gonna be really hard. You know what I mean?
- [55:04]
A
Yeah, totally. It's. You have to win.
- [55:06]
B
And I was like, I. I'm gonna be there for my mom. Like, she's not feeling good. So I stayed there till seven, I think six in the morning maybe. It was like, right around Halloween. I think it was a Saturday. Everybody's in the ER Urgent care with their, like, costumes on. There's so many parties. And I'm like, I could have fit right in if I just came in my uniform too. But I just had, like, my hood on, my hat down, and I'm just sitting there and I'm like. And I was huge. Like, it goes back to my personality being, like, perfect. And I was like, I need my nine hours of sleep.
- [55:33]
A
Yeah. KB was not hooting with the owls. No.
- [55:36]
B
I'm like, I, I want to go to sleep. Like, I probably got seven hours of sleep, six hours of sleep that night. But I slept till like 2:33. Went to the field and tie it up. The biggest home run of my life, probably.
- [55:46]
C
I feel like there's a couple.
- [55:47]
A
That's one of the biggest home runs of, like, one of the most underrated home runs of the whole World Series. Because we were losing in the fourth inning. Trevor Bowers shoving, shoving. Right. And we're down 31 when falling in. Howling in. Everyone is starting to get tight. Like, we own. There's only a certain amount of outs left. And we're down right on elimination. Yeah. You hit that homer. And it was like everyone was like, the whole stadium. We lost the first two games there. The whole stadium erupted. Right. And like that inning, we. Right. The very next pitch, I hit a ball off the wall in right center. Freaking wind. Dated. But I thought I clipped them too, like, back to back.
- [56:30]
B
Yeah.
- [56:30]
A
But we ended up scoring three runs. And you started that. And it was like we won that game.
- [56:34]
C
And I got the last rbi. I get the rbi. They walk hobby.
- [56:37]
A
And I get three runs in the fourth inning that we won that game. Three to two to. Yeah. And you're out till.
- [56:43]
E
Yeah.
- [56:44]
B
The longest I've ever stayed out before game.
- [56:50]
C
I think you have this, like, the, your World Series home runs were some of the biggest home runs that don't get talked about to be like some of the, like, like there's some big ones. And obviously, like, when you recap and you're watching, they're all big. Yeah.
- [57:04]
B
I don't know. I, I, I feel like you don't play the game for that type of recognition.
- [57:10]
C
No, no. I just mean as a team.
- [57:11]
B
But like. Yeah, but like, it's like Mickey's hit
- [57:13]
C
to give us the extra run. Nobody talks about that. It's like, you know, they talk about all these other things just because of narrative and how it goes.
- [57:20]
B
But, yeah, yeah, I. I guess the homer's real. I like, for me, personally, in the World Series, like, I was more proud of the base running.
- [57:28]
A
Like, bro, you're the bet, by far, hands down, the best basement I've ever played with. And arguably the best part of your. His base running was elite.
- [57:37]
C
Well, we talked when I manage. You were talking about, I want to score that. Like, I never heard. Yeah, 100 runs. I want to score 100 runs.
- [57:43]
A
Yeah, because he taught you that, right, Hensky, or who said that? Like, I want to score 100 runs.
- [57:49]
B
I don't really know. I think for me, it was just always a goal of mine because I felt like I had more control of that than the RBIs. RBIs is obviously the more sexy stat. Like, of course, 100 fingers. It's amazing. But, like, I just. Like, when I got on base for you, like, on first base, I was like, I just want to give the best effort for you to get that run.
- [58:09]
A
Having him. Oh, man, you probably scored 20, 30% of my RBI when we played.
- [58:15]
C
And the thing about your games I love that comes out in the World Series is, like, your fun and your passion on the. When you're running like that and you're running hard and then you slide and you're safe. There's a couple where it's like, play at the plate. You're saying you come over, you're pumping it, and you're like, kb's pumped. I'm pumped. You know, like, that.
- [58:31]
A
That's it.
- [58:32]
B
Yeah. I mean, I was off with the pitch on that, obviously. I think it was three, two count. I was running on the pitch, but scoring me first on a single.
- [58:39]
A
Andrew Miller in game seven.
- [58:40]
B
Yeah. Yeah, I was.
- [58:41]
A
That's. Though it should have been a double because I was going, no matter what.
- [58:43]
C
Yeah.
- [58:44]
A
Single.
- [58:45]
B
You're slow.
- [58:45]
C
I got to hit off Andrew Miller, too.
- [58:46]
B
But then sack fly that Addy hit right to Raj Davis in center field. Like, no way. I should have been running. No, like, that was a deep fly to shortstop, and Jones is at third. He's like. He's like. He wasn't saying anything. And I'm like, okay, what am I doing? Like, all right, am I going? I'm going. He's. And he's like, last thing. He's like, go, go, go, go. I was like, all right, I'm off. Like. And like, that was just me when I was on the base path. Like, I just wanted to run as fast As I can.
- [59:13]
A
Yeah.
- [59:13]
B
At all moments. I like, even to this day, like I can safely say that anytime I've hit a ground ball in my Bailey career, like, I've never taken it off. I just tried to run as hard as I can because one, I'm pissed that I just hit a ground ball.
- [59:27]
A
And two, like, yeah, that would be something too.
- [59:29]
C
Like, him and J. Hey are my two favorite base runners. I saw Jay at a young age too, in Atlanta, like a kid.
- [59:34]
A
I said so much. Like, this is just me being jealous, but being a righty and like rolling over a ball in the hole, he could beat it out. I roll over a ball in the hole, I'm out. And I would say for years, like, this is a right handed hitters game, bro.
- [59:48]
B
Like you would. Until they banish.
- [59:50]
A
Until they ban the shift. Because a lefty rolls a ball. I hit a missile one hopper to the.
- [59:55]
C
The.
- [59:56]
A
The short right field nickelback and right field right. Because they're playing prevent defense and the righties do that and they get hits. And he was so fast. He would get those hits. I was like, damn, man. Like, I was just a little faster.
- [60:08]
B
Yeah, I wouldn't say I never fast. I'm not a fast guy. I just.
- [60:12]
A
You had.
- [60:12]
B
I took big strides.
- [60:13]
A
You had speed. You like game speed.
- [60:15]
B
You were. Yeah, I would say.
- [60:16]
C
I just.
- [60:17]
B
Yeah.
- [60:17]
C
Let's talk batting practice. We got some good. A good story. Batting practice for the World Series.
- [60:22]
B
Yeah, we.
- [60:23]
A
Well, we didn't take BP in the World Series. Me and kb.
- [60:25]
B
I did one day.
- [60:26]
C
One day.
- [60:27]
A
One day. And the one day he goes out there. The reason we didn't take BP is because it was a soap opera out there. Cameras are everywhere. People are trying to talk to you. It's just like we're at game one, basically, like almost 90. Like, we don't need BP. We're ready.
- [60:44]
B
Yeah. Like you just don't want to talk
- [60:46]
A
and we just don't want. Yeah, we just didn't want the noise. Right. I remember us talking. So he goes out. What. What game is six? I don't really.
- [60:52]
B
It might have been six. Yeah, it was in Cleveland.
- [60:55]
A
Yeah.
- [60:56]
B
Yeah, definitely was.
- [60:57]
A
Oh, no, I think it was game seven.
- [60:58]
B
It might have been game seven. Because like you're like, oh, I gotta go take bps. Game seven in the World Series.
- [61:04]
A
I did not.
- [61:04]
C
Well, we had that whole Bussy round. Yeah, that was like fun. So, yes, I think a lot of people were out there for game seven.
- [61:09]
B
Let's talk about Bussy being the MVP of the team. Sorry. He's the best.
- [61:13]
A
Yeah. But yeah, he goes out to bp taking bp.
- [61:20]
B
Font, our BP pitcher, like, one of the best, right? Great.
- [61:24]
A
Like, you have a lot of six, seven years.
- [61:27]
B
He. He got the thing. He. I mean, he was. He was grooving. I mean, he'd groove a couple, and then he'd throw, like, two, like, down, away.
- [61:36]
A
Throw, like cutters. Batting crackers.
- [61:37]
B
Cutters.
- [61:37]
C
I'm like, little alligator arm.
- [61:39]
A
And we were not.
- [61:39]
B
He's a little nervous. I'm like, yeah, I'm a little nervous, too. It's normal. And then zings. Want to ride up and in. It's me, my shoulder, and then that's it.
- [61:48]
A
And then I'm done.
- [61:49]
B
And then I'm like, all right. Yeah, I'm gonna. I'm gonna walk out.
- [61:52]
C
That's when you're in the big leagues. You're livid. Like, I. We were telling a story about Buzzy trying to do rehab stuff in the middle of my batting practice. I'm like, get out of here. I'm trying to lock in if.
- [62:03]
A
When we were taking bp, we're such divas. Like, if that ball isn't center. Center. I'm literally eyeing him, saying, what the fuck are you doing?
- [62:10]
C
Like, yeah, like, you get to be a diva in certain stuff when you're getting ready for sure.
- [62:14]
B
He hits me, and then, short story short, he can. He can throw me BP ever again. Yeah.
- [62:19]
C
Yeah, he gone.
- [62:20]
A
You know what I look back at and, like, love to think about is 108 year curse. All this pressure, right? Like, you have so much history of Chicago. We're game seven of the World Series.
- [62:34]
B
Really?
- [62:34]
A
Every game in Cleveland. And, like, the main guys are just sitting there playing Mario Kart before the game. Like, that was our pre game.
- [62:43]
C
Like, we were looking at film YouTube decks. And then, like, Woody would wrote it. Rotate in. Yeah.
- [62:49]
A
And, like, I just look back. Like, you and me are just. Literally just. Yeah. All right. Oh, it's 45 minutes before the game. All right, I'm gonna go get rest a couple stretches.
- [62:57]
C
I was the old guy that was, like, stressed out. Like, these kids aren't focused.
- [63:00]
A
Yeah, this is my last.
- [63:02]
C
My last game ever.
- [63:04]
B
You guys better be ready.
- [63:05]
C
Lock it in. This guy's doing seven.
- [63:07]
B
This is.
- [63:08]
C
He's doing the Rocky naked. Naked dances.
- [63:10]
B
I've seen way too many of your crevices. Yeah, let's never do that again. But that's what. Bro, that's what made our team good, is that we could be in the most important game of our lives. And you Bring us together. Let's play Mario Kart. Let's.
- [63:28]
C
That's your leader. His leadership gift is so much. And it's like if you go to dinner with him, if you go to a charity function, if you go out with him, we're playing like your gift. You make everybody have a good time. I've always said that, like, everybody has fun. You're having a good time too. But Dexter's got some of that right. Like you're going to make sure everybody else is good. Even though you may internally be stressed, you're. You relax with others. You relax when others relax.
- [63:58]
A
Yeah. Like you guys letting me be that. Like, I would hit naked from time to time. So you're saying with the crevices. And like, for me it would be like, I feel I would always say, I'm so free. I'm so free. Right.
- [64:11]
C
But then literally, naked batting practice.
- [64:13]
B
Naked batting practice, he would be flipping
- [64:15]
A
in the cage and he'd be like, see the difference? Yeah, see the difference.
- [64:18]
C
See the difference.
- [64:19]
A
And like, it would be a funny thing where like the guys would come and just start dying laughing. And for me, it would relax me. So I'd get into the game and I'd be like, oh, I'm sorry, Free.
- [64:28]
B
Right.
- [64:28]
A
And then before game seven, I'm. I'm dancing there to the Rocky song.
- [64:32]
B
And so funny.
- [64:33]
A
But it's cuz it's like, look, we've. We're prepared, we're ready to go. We have our routines. Like this is what we believed worked. And us playing Mario, if we didn't play Mario Kart before game seven, we're not winning game seven. Like it kind of locked us in like competitively because those were intense games. Yeah.
- [64:50]
C
We got get sponsored by Nintendo. Nintendo, Nintendo, yeah.
- [64:55]
A
Those games, those games.
- [64:57]
C
Those games.
- [64:57]
B
I think back I was playing third base in the World Series. Like so many. Like, I remember Napoli hit me a line drive that I didn't even see off the bat. No clue. Like, it was almost a short hop I caught in the air. I remember catching that ball and I'm like, I did not see that ball. I had no clue how I caught that ball.
- [65:18]
A
Like, same thing, bro. Like game one or two, it was
- [65:22]
B
just like your body like over, like took over.
- [65:24]
A
Like that game, remember game one, how cold it was? Yeah. Crazy.
- [65:28]
B
Like there's so, so many things now that we're talking that are coming back to me now.
- [65:33]
A
That game six, you hit at the another again. Game five, you start the rally. Game six, you start the rally. We end up boat racing in game six. But, like, these are. We don't win those games. Obviously, we can't get to game six. All what happened? We're about to talk about. But, like, again, that's why I go back.
- [65:49]
C
He would give us breathing room. Like, breaking the seal. When you did that, it was like, oh, here we go.
- [65:54]
B
Yeah.
- [65:54]
A
Because, like, that's our best.
- [65:55]
C
That's our best player.
- [65:56]
A
And, like, when our best player does the best thing, then everyone else can, like, yeah. All right. All right.
- [66:00]
C
We got the lead. Here we go.
- [66:01]
B
Yeah.
- [66:02]
A
Yeah.
- [66:02]
B
And that was so nice doing it. Game six homer in the first and decks game seven in the first. Like, that 10 early lead is, like, huge.
- [66:09]
C
And our record, too. When we got the lead, I remember, like, I don't know what the stat is right off the bat, but, like. Like, we get the lead. Is rare that people came back on us, but they did.
- [66:18]
B
They did.
- [66:18]
C
What did you think about in that Raje moment? The home run? How loud was that place?
- [66:25]
B
I mean, obviously, I can look back on it more fondly now that we won the game, but, like, in the moment, the. The biggest letdown of, like, obviously my entire career. And it, like, he hit the. He hit it so hard. Out. Chappie was thrown 102. Like, he. He just had a hit.
- [66:43]
A
I went right over your head. It was right over my point of that.
- [66:46]
B
It was right over my head, and I'm like, I didn't think it was going over the fence, but I knew. And he choked up like a.
- [66:52]
C
He was choking. I remember that. Yeah, I should have called it.
- [66:55]
B
I, Like, I felt like I should have jumped for the ball. Like, that's. And it was smoked. And I just. I remember looking at you too, across the diamond. We didn't make eye contact, but I was just like. I just was, like, super defeated.
- [67:09]
C
Everybody remembers LeBron on the thing, flexing.
- [67:12]
A
What was going through your head?
- [67:14]
B
I was just like, what were you.
- [67:16]
A
Do you remember any of those?
- [67:17]
B
I was just like, dude, we came. Like, we were on the verge of coming back three to one, and, like, that's how this is gonna play out.
- [67:23]
A
Like, isn't that crazy? Like, isn't it so crazy we could talk 10 years later and you. We ask anyone about Raje, and it's like, we lost the game like that. Like, we literally.
- [67:35]
B
It was.
- [67:36]
A
And we ended up winning the World Series. And we still talk about Raja. I still see him to this day,
- [67:40]
B
and I'm like, I don't want to talk to
- [67:44]
A
you. I actually love you. You made it, like, the best series ever.
- [67:47]
C
Yeah, well, it's like he. It's like he carries bad energy when I see him, you know? I mean, like, I like you, Raja. You always got a smile on your face. But, like, I've got bad memories in my. In my gut.
- [67:59]
A
When we went into the Rain Delay, right? What. Where were you? Like, what do you remember about that?
- [68:07]
B
I remember going in. Well, so Cleveland is. You gotta walk up the stairs. It's kind of a little. Not a little bit of a trek to get to the clubhouse, right? So you're walking up the. There's two stairs that go up. And I'm walking in and everything's tarped off. The beer buckets are out.
- [68:21]
C
Like, thank God I didn't see that. I would have snapped.
- [68:24]
A
Lester did. Lester did that. Lester made him take it all down.
- [68:27]
B
Yeah, I saw it, and I'm like, I. I couldn't. I saw it for five seconds and I turned right around, and then we all gathered in the. The weight room. But I was like, dude, like, I kind of understand, like, yeah, you kind of have to set up for the party or whatever and have enough time for it. But I'm like, that could have waited.
- [68:43]
C
It's a bad look.
- [68:44]
A
Yeah.
- [68:44]
B
We were gonna be on the field. Whoever won was gonna be on the field for 45 minutes, and then they were gonna make their way in. But I just remember in that moment, like, being like. Just felt like everything was just taken from us. And then we went to the weight room, and then I saw Chappie in the corner crying, and I was like, dude, I feel so bad for him. Everybody, like, that guy, like, put it all on the line the whole playoffs, being traded over in, like, pitching two and a third.
- [69:12]
A
He had an eight out save in game five.
- [69:15]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [69:16]
A
Like, then pitched in game six.
- [69:18]
C
That's what we were talking about. I almost brought that up earlier. Like, he came in so early in
- [69:22]
B
game five, so early, and, yeah, I just felt so bad for him in that moment.
- [69:26]
A
And we all did.
- [69:27]
B
Yeah.
- [69:28]
A
Like, this is a relative, Chapman. This dude is a. Like, he's from Cuba. Nothing phases him. He's yoked. He's like, yeah, the scariest human being.
- [69:36]
C
Dinner, half a year.
- [69:38]
B
Not traded over new people. We've both been traded. Like, it's like. It's kind of. You never really get to know the group. You need to be there in spring. Sure do. The dinner, the fact that he was
- [69:48]
A
so, like, vulnerable there. And then we talk and, like, what do you remember from all that so
- [69:54]
B
that I don't remember too much. I just. Like, a lot of people like, saying their piece, obviously. J. Hey. But, like, for me, in the moment, I was just more, like, focused on Chappie. Like, I just. Like, he's balling his eyes out. I feel so bad for the guy. Like I said, I don't remember anything anybody said.
- [70:11]
C
I have a hard time, too. I remember him saying, like. I remember saying, like, we. How we got here. This is how we got here. It's about us.
- [70:16]
B
Yeah.
- [70:17]
C
And all that, but I don't. Same thing. I'm the one that went and got Chappy off the bench. He was in his hands, crying off the bench because he was the only one missing. So went and got him. And then we walked in. Everybody was like, bro, we wouldn't be here without you and all that.
- [70:30]
B
Oh, yeah, Yeah, A lot of that. But then, like. Like, I picture him in that state, and then I picture him like when Zobers and Montero get the big knocks and he's on the top rail, like, showing that type of emotion. And it was like a complete 180. Like, I. I didn't see him in the moment showing that emotion, but in the. The replays and you see him and then you see you. I don't even know what you were saying, but you're like, I told you.
- [70:55]
A
I told you. I wonder how much, though, like, for Chappie, right? Like, he's. He's Cuban. There's a definite language barrier, Right. It's not easy being a foreign player. Like, playing and not knowing the language.
- [71:09]
B
Sure.
- [71:09]
A
You're new and, like, I wonder.
- [71:11]
C
And you're a free agent at the end of the year.
- [71:12]
A
Yeah. And I wonder how much for him that meant, like, that his whole team had his back there, right? Like, how much we actually cared.
- [71:18]
C
We're going to ask him.
- [71:19]
A
We're going to ask him.
- [71:20]
C
Going back to your point, my. Some of my favorite pictures, like, there's photos of my home run and hider, but I see the bench and it's you and you and like, all these guys. Like, my favorite things, like, when you see your teammates, joy for you. Like, there is not a better feeling in the world when you're like, look at my. My dudes having my back, right? Like, y. So pumped for every little bit. Almost let in. Almost gave up the game. Almost getting him killed on throwing the ball in and getting a scoring on a wild pitch, and shit's going crazy. And I'm like, get that home run back and everybody's like, top step, fist pumping. And you're. I just. Your face is, like, so aggressively, like, happy.
- [71:58]
B
I never.
- [71:59]
C
I was.
- [71:59]
B
You know, but, like, there's something, like, in the playoffs where it's.
- [72:04]
C
You turn to a kid, you turn
- [72:06]
B
and, like, it's like, what you do individually. Individually does not matter at all.
- [72:10]
C
No.
- [72:11]
B
You know, there's a certain point of the regular season where you're like, you're trying to put up your numbers and, like, you're trying to win games, but in the playoffs, none of it matters.
- [72:19]
C
And it just hit a W and
- [72:21]
B
then move to the next one. Yeah, that's my favorite part about.
- [72:24]
A
How'd you feel it was, what, the 10th? Right when you came up, you hit that ball to right center. It's a home run. Earlier, I thought it was gone, right?
- [72:33]
B
Yeah.
- [72:34]
A
And you hit it off the bat. We're so, like, messed up for. Because of wind. And coming up, playing at Wrigley, like, we know all wind elements everywhere.
- [72:44]
B
Oh, my God.
- [72:44]
A
Did you know right away, like.
- [72:47]
B
Yeah, I was. I hit it good. It was. I knew right away it wasn't going out. It was more like, you, like, how you spin the ball when you hit. When you get one of those that you kind of like, hit like parachute.
- [73:00]
C
Yeah.
- [73:00]
B
Like, when you kind of hit high center, but they kind of like fade to left center. Like, you don't truly backspin it to center. That was like one of those. I just knew the spin. It had that more of the side spin. So it was going to, like, just die at the track. But, I mean, Albert tagging up on that ball, like, I feel like that's not. That's not how you teach that play.
- [73:19]
A
Exactly.
- [73:20]
B
You go halfway. And for him to have the instincts
- [73:22]
A
to be a rookie, bro, he just came in the game. He wasn't supposed to be in the game because he said if Schorber hits a double, you're going in. And then Schorber let off with a single, and Joe audible real quick. So Albert had to audible real quick.
- [73:35]
C
But a man. You're right.
- [73:36]
B
It's like.
- [73:37]
A
Yeah. And everybody doing their job.
- [73:38]
C
It's like we were talking about how many pieces connect.
- [73:41]
A
We don't win that without every.
- [73:42]
B
Without. Without taking a risk like that. Yeah, like that.
- [73:47]
A
Having the. Honestly, having the cojones to tag up there in game seven of the World Series, like, and that's like, I talk about Joe and how much Joe meant to our group, especially our young group of, like, he led us go play. He let us be kids. And by being Kids. That's how I feel. Like, we shine most.
- [74:07]
B
Yeah. Joe. I feel like. I think when you talk about the team, I feel like Joe gets credit, but he doesn't get enough credit for what he meant.
- [74:15]
A
No, not at all.
- [74:16]
B
To us.
- [74:16]
C
Agree.
- [74:16]
B
And just, like, how easy it was playing for him, talking to him. Talking to him. And just. I have, like, I talk about my dad a lot. How I have emails from him. I have a lot of screenshots from Joe. Really just text messaging, like, back and forth. That's him that I keep to, like, just like. And I never told him that, but, like, just, like, it's just like, how I want to live my life, too, after baseball, like, just with anything in life, like, teaching my kids, like, how to get through school or whatever, like, what type of attitude you want to have and how you want to approach it. And, like, are you going to be, like, down on yourself all the time or are you going to, like, just. Just, you know, push through it, you know, knock the wall down? And, like, for me, Joe was that guy. But he said it in such a great way that, like, it wasn't like, he was never demeaning. Like, he never yelled at us. Like, he. I don't. I have nothing but amazing memories of how Joe coached us.
- [75:12]
A
If we don't win without Joe.
- [75:14]
C
No, he kept us in this bubble and everybody criticizes a lot of things. And he. He actually was very, very accountable and walked us through all his stuff, which was great. But the fact of, like, how he kept us with all those distractions in 108 years. And, like, I never felt any of that in our world. We were on our own little world, Prisoners run this island, the whole thing, like, and he was so chill and fun. I. I learned a lot about having a life outside of baseball. Right. And making that fun and being able to not just enjoy on the backside of my. My career. And he, man, he was. He's one of the best managers. Him and Bobby Cox. I put probably. Yeah, probably at the top.
- [75:48]
B
Joe was just so unconventional on how he went about it that, like, I feel like coaches nowadays just can't do it. He was one of a kind.
- [75:58]
A
Yeah. There's one of one.
- [75:59]
B
One of them.
- [75:59]
A
He's literally one of one.
- [76:00]
B
Yeah.
- [76:01]
C
Swinging bond.
- [76:04]
A
Yeah.
- [76:04]
C
Oh, we're up one at this point. They scored a run.
- [76:09]
B
Yeah.
- [76:09]
C
Rajay's on base.
- [76:11]
B
Where was he first?
- [76:12]
C
He was at first.
- [76:13]
A
At first. Yeah.
- [76:14]
B
Yeah.
- [76:14]
A
If that ball goes over Mike Montgomery,
- [76:16]
B
you're running down the line, you're sliding.
- [76:18]
A
That's a big foul territory.
- [76:19]
C
Nobody's. Nobody's picking Mike Montgomery's on the B. Hard to close out game seven.
- [76:25]
A
No, when he's coming in, they take CJ out. We're like. I remember standing on the mountain. Like, we look. I feel like we looked over. Like what?
- [76:33]
B
Like, I mean, who else would have came in? Right? So.
- [76:35]
C
Yeah, well, we had ridden like Strop and Rondon. Yeah. All those guys. Like, we had written those guys too. But like we were talking Joe. Like it kind of flipped a little bit. These young guys. C.J. was pitching way. Yeah. Montgomery in that curb.
- [76:48]
B
Was Martinez supposed to take there or was he pinch hitting for someone?
- [76:51]
A
Pinch hitting. He.
- [76:52]
C
Well, they brought him in for defense against. For. He pitch hit for Chris Coco. Chris. The. They had taken him out the inning at bat before. Right.
- [77:01]
A
For.
- [77:01]
C
For Geier.
- [77:03]
A
Yeah. And then he came up when his
- [77:05]
C
spot came and he went in for defense.
- [77:06]
B
Okay.
- [77:07]
A
Yeah, dude, take us through because we've never really talked about this either. Like, because we just celebrated and then. Yeah.
- [77:17]
C
And there were worse. Yeah. Nobody cares.
- [77:18]
A
I had pine tar globed in my glove. Like before that night or 10th inning, I literally took the rag and just, I'm like, I'm not dropping a ball because when it gets cold, like the glove gets a little crispy and like, if I don't catch it right and it pops out.
- [77:33]
C
Nothing came out.
- [77:34]
A
Terrified you.
- [77:35]
C
Nothing came out of your glove, though.
- [77:37]
B
I was very comfortable throwing the ball to you. Yeah. But it just goes back to like, like, like hitting in the World Series. You're like, you're. You're heightened. Your. Your heart rate's elevated a little bit. You're. You're feeling it. But like, playing defense in big games is way tougher in my opinion. Like, you obviously don't want to be the guy. Sure. That screws it up for the team.
- [78:02]
A
And like, there's a couple guys names. We're not going to say any. That like, you know, forever in baseball history for the wrong reason.
- [78:08]
C
You're right.
- [78:09]
A
You know what I mean? And like there's a massive Cubs person that forever, like, unrightfully so has been like, tormented.
- [78:18]
B
Yeah.
- [78:19]
A
And like other guys. So it's like, yeah, you're on defense. You're like.
- [78:22]
B
Yeah.
- [78:22]
C
When you guys have more time to think, like the catching, the defense was my comfort zone. So like after the first pitch, I was just like normal except for hitting.
- [78:30]
A
Hitting was like, God damn, Ross, you left two balls in on a pass ball.
- [78:35]
C
Okay, well, that's Lester's fault. We bring that Lester, I think that
- [78:38]
B
was the one moment in my whole career playing with you where. Where you tried to block a Lester curveball. And, like, you were seeing Tweety Bird. I was like, this dude is old,
- [78:51]
C
fella. I woke up the next day, was wondering why my ankle hurt. And I went back. Watch that play. I rolled my ankle when I went to get up and fell back down.
- [78:59]
B
He was moving in slow motion, man.
- [79:02]
C
Good time to go out.
- [79:03]
B
He's going.
- [79:03]
C
He's going. We're going to kill him tonight. He's actually going to die. But you get that ground ball.
- [79:08]
B
Yeah, yeah. I. I think leading up to that, two outs, like, it's every person's dream to be the one to make the last out, feel the last out, catch it, get the last strikeout. But you don't want it to come to you, right?
- [79:27]
A
I mean, I don't know. I. Like, I was terrified, bro.
- [79:30]
C
That.
- [79:32]
A
I was like, that's a hit.
- [79:33]
B
I was.
- [79:34]
A
And I put my head down to go to first, and I look up and I see him like, oh, yeah.
- [79:38]
B
I took, like, two, like, big strides, like, off the bat. I'm like, okay, this is. Either Monty's gonna get it. He didn't. It's like, oh, no. I was like, I'm gonna have to throw this on the run. Which wet grass.
- [79:51]
A
Like, Yeah.
- [79:52]
B
I got to it so quick. I. I was so. It maybe. What? Took two bounces, and it was like a nice.
- [79:57]
C
Two bounces.
- [79:57]
B
It was a nice, easy, like. And then I'm throwing the ball on
- [80:01]
A
my foot, slipping, and you're smiling.
- [80:04]
B
It wasn't a smile. It was like a. Just like. It was. It was just a concentration face, I guess. But, yes, out of the hand.
- [80:15]
A
I thought that was sailed.
- [80:17]
C
You did.
- [80:17]
A
I was in the. That's how nervous I was.
- [80:19]
B
I was. I might have. Like, I didn't embellish it, but, like, I kind of, like, leaned into, like. Because if I just, like, planted hard and then let it slip, that thing was for sure going over your head. But, like, I kind of, like.
- [80:35]
C
Nice, Nice.
- [80:37]
B
But, yeah, I mean, the rain delay, was it, like, 15 minutes long?
- [80:42]
A
17.
- [80:42]
B
17 minutes long.
- [80:44]
C
Good number.
- [80:44]
B
Good number. And then we just kind of just went out and played everyone right away. But there wasn't like a. Like, you know, with the rain delay, they're fixing the field. They're striping it again. Like, we didn't do any of that.
- [80:56]
C
No, it was quick.
- [80:57]
A
When you threw it to me, we were talking about your dad and, like, we'll bring it full Circle. Like, when I was a kid with my dad, I would always, like, practice, like, winning and, like, being the champion of the world. And, like, we would always, like, raise both hands.
- [81:10]
B
A big of the world.
- [81:12]
A
So, like, you perfectly threw it, like, high, and I was like, that's why, like, you raised your hands.
- [81:18]
B
That's my.
- [81:19]
A
Like, that was for my picture.
- [81:20]
B
That's obviously in my career.
- [81:21]
A
That's what I did with my dad my whole life. Yeah. Like, oh, I'm fucking champion of the world. And, like, put the ball in the pocket and I ran right to you, and we just, like, jump on each other.
- [81:30]
B
Yeah, dude, that was. Yeah. Like, I don't know. For me, personally, like, you know, I feel like we won a lot over a short period of time that you try to think how you're gonna celebrate, right?
- [81:42]
A
Yeah.
- [81:43]
B
Like, what are. We're going right to each other. Yeah. Like, Addie and Javi are going together.
- [81:47]
A
You're
- [81:50]
B
like, if you're on the field, you're going to do your pitcher. And it's like, I feel like we had conversations about that stuff, too. What are we going to do?
- [81:57]
C
We talked about the. Both the two best teams I've been a. World Series. Teams I've won with, the teams I've been on, they talk about winning the World Series, and I think that's so important for a mindset of players. Like, the ultimate goal is, like, don't. Don't sell yourself short of, like, we want to make the playoffs or we want to, you know, like, all that bullshit. Like, there's definitely steps to it. But, like, when you talk about winning the World Series, that's when it's. That's when you get there and you're expected to be there. And, like, we've already talked about how we're going to celebrate this win. You know, like, here we go.
- [82:27]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [82:27]
A
As much as we talked about it, too, it's like, what the Cubs fans, like, how they celebrated it was like, the most, like, crazy, sentimental thing, right? Like, seeing all the flags on the graves and people at the graveyards and,
- [82:44]
C
like, flying the W everywhere.
- [82:47]
A
And it was like, we. We knew it was going to be that. Like that. But, like, it was 10 times more than what we even talked about. And we talked about this all the time. Like, our imaginations are crazy and not too many things in the game outlives your imagination and winning.
- [83:01]
B
Dude.
- [83:01]
A
And it was like, it was so
- [83:03]
B
cool to see, like, because obviously the Cubs had not won in so long, but, like, so much tradition just kind of came out, like, at once, like seeing so many flags and people just talking about how like, oh, my. My mom would love to see this day. And like, oh, my grandpa saw it and he passed away shortly after. It's like people waiting around to see this happen.
- [83:23]
C
That's my favorite thing that I still carry is like, the ring's great. That's obviously like winning is, but hearing people's like, stories of generational, like, how they became fans and where they were at game seven and all that stuff, it's amazing.
- [83:35]
B
Yep, amazing.
- [83:37]
A
Like, our families are on the field afterwards. They're all in it. Yeah, they're on the end now of like, what I say, a two year bender of just like celebrating. And the parties, the parties at Lester's, the parties at Country Club and Wrigleyville, all this stuff. And like, there's. Everyone's so ecstatic. You get to like, do all this love. But like, at the end, it's just like, bro, we. We did this and like, we're like, we're only. There's only 25 of us. Yeah, yeah.
- [84:02]
C
Right?
- [84:02]
A
And it's like, well, we coaches and everyone evolved, but.
- [84:05]
C
Well, then we're on that pedestal. Like, like, we went to snl. Me, you, Dax, we'll talk about that. But me and you went to. And we were on Ellen, who was like giant at the time. Right. We flew. Disney flew us out to like, all the way to this sick jet.
- [84:19]
A
Yeah.
- [84:19]
C
Private plane on the way to the snl.
- [84:21]
B
I did Jimmy Kimmel too.
- [84:22]
C
You did Kimmel?
- [84:24]
B
What.
- [84:25]
A
What was like, the biggest thing from winning that? Like that from winning the World Series. What's the biggest thing that's changed your life now, 10 years later from winning? Yeah. Like, what have you learned most about that? Like, as a player, as a person, as a dad?
- [84:41]
B
What if I learned most from win? Oh, my gosh. Well, it's just like, like if you speak it and you put it out there and you have a group of people that all buy in and speak the same language as you, it's like it almost made it easier to accomplish it. You know, it's like not saying the teams after, like the 2017, all the way through 21, when we were there, like, we didn't have that, you know, And I, like, in the moment, like, we. We weren't able to, like, see it, but now looking back on it, you can totally see, like, it was just a special time. Like, we had a whole group that bought in and just all we did was talk about winning the World series and what it would mean for a city and the fan base. And we're like. And it was like, nothing was gonna stop us. So it's like, yeah, you. Like, A lot of it for me now is like, I try to instill in my kids. It's like. Like, my son just did ski lessons, and I'm sitting there on the side of the mountain watching him, and he's struggling just to get back on this little magic carpet thing because he's just sliding back on the snow. And I'm just sitting there. I'm like, I'm not going to say anything to him. Like, I sure, I can go out there and push him. And I'm like, no, you're going to figure it out. Like, you're going to have the drive to get up the mountain and do it again. And for us, I was like, that's kind of what we did. Like, we went through all of our peaks and valleys, and it was like, we talked to each other, we leaned on each other, and some led by example, some were more vocal, and, like, we all were able to pull ourselves out from our crappy times. And we were at the mountaintop at the end of this thing.
- [86:24]
A
I was like, yeah, it's the peak
- [86:26]
B
of the game, the peak of the
- [86:27]
A
Sport for the 2016 Chicago Cubs. Being the MVP of the greatest Cubs team in the history of the organization and what you meant to the organization, what we all meant. But the fact that we get to sit down and talk about it 10 years later has been the. One of the biggest joys of my career so far.
- [86:47]
C
This highlight.
- [86:49]
B
I'm jealous that you guys get to do this without.
- [86:52]
A
Well, without you two. Like, you and me and the whole brizzo stuff and playing together and, like, our relationship. Jess and Emily are so close, and you coming in and mentoring me, it's like, I'm like, I'm full of joy because of it. Looking back of, like, I got to do this with great people. Being, like, lifelong friends.
- [87:14]
C
That's what it's all about, right?
- [87:15]
A
We look back, we're sitting here at the summit here in Las Vegas. Like, I'm telling Chris I'm a really good guest for a member guest.
- [87:21]
B
You're playing with Dex.
- [87:22]
A
Yeah.
- [87:24]
C
Well.
- [87:24]
B
But I think. I think the cool, like, just for our relationship, personally. And I might not have the best relationship with some of the other guys on the team nowadays, which is.
- [87:33]
A
It's hard to do. We grow apart. Yeah.
- [87:34]
B
But, like, I know that. And, like, we might talk. Might not talk for months, but Like, I know that, like, when you call me or something, it's like. And you get a new number all the time. Like, this one's Anthony's new number. Like, oh, Anthony's calling. Like, what does he want now? But no, it's like, when you call me, it's like. It's not like. It's like, we've been talking, like, yesterday, you know, it's like, yeah, you know, certain players you play with, and then you see him, like, two years down the road, and you're like, I don't know what to say to you. Like, I don't know how to talk to you right now, but it's like, I think we all built such a good bond.
- [88:06]
C
When you do what we did, we're your brothers for life. Right. Like, and how close our team was and the amount of guys that we had that were good people. Right. And also good baseball players. Like, it was a very unique group, obviously, to go through what we went through and come out champions. But to that. To that respect, like, I. I love everybody on that team. You know, I mean, it's like, you see them and just joy. Brings back all the memories.
- [88:30]
A
We carried you off the field.
- [88:31]
C
It's not about me, Riz.
- [88:32]
A
But I'm saying, though, like, that's how much you meant to us. Yeah. Like, you're 40 years old.
- [88:37]
C
Changed my life.
- [88:38]
A
So your backup catcher, you are. You are our guy.
- [88:41]
B
Yeah.
- [88:41]
A
And, like, close. Close us out. Ross Hunter. Give us.
- [88:44]
C
Yeah. Well, thank you to 2016 MVP, World Series champion, and still active, Chris Bryant. That was a lot of fun, man. We're really thankful for you. Obviously, I'm thankful for my ring, your friendship, and the round of golf we're about to play.
- [89:04]
B
Go have fun. Love you, dad.
- [89:05]
A
That's all right.
- [89:06]
B
Love you, dad. You guys as much.
- [89:09]
C
That's a wrap.