The WILD PRESSURE of pitching in Cubs' World Series w/ Justin Grimm & Mike Montgomery | Ross & Rizzo

Summary

The Lovable Reunion – Episode Summary

Main Theme / Purpose

Episode Title: The WILD PRESSURE of pitching in Cubs' World Series w/ Justin Grimm & Mike Montgomery | Ross & Rizzo
Release Date: May 26, 2026
Podcast: The Lovable Reunion (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Special Guests: Justin Grimm and Mike Montgomery
Hosts/Panel: David Ross, Anthony Rizzo, and Joe Maddon

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series championship, this episode brings together core members of the team’s bullpen—Justin Grimm and Mike Montgomery—to relive the high-stakes pressure, locker room culture, and unforgettable moments leading to the franchise’s legendary win. Through candid storytelling, the episode reveals the often overlooked but crucial roles these pitchers played, their emotional journeys, and untold stories from inside the clubhouse.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Coming to the Cubs: Trade Stories & Bullpen Roles (02:41 – 07:50)

• Justin Grimm recounts being traded from Texas (2013) and the emotional turbulence of being sent back to AAA.
  • "When I got traded, they're like, you're gonna go to AAA. And I was just kind of like, well, fuck. Like, that sucks, you know, but, you know, fast forward now. It all worked out. I guess so." — Justin Grimm (03:08)
• Describes initial impressions: meeting Jake Arrieta and integrating with a new team.
• Grimm’s Role: Referred to as the “fireman” — the bullpen piece trusted to bridge games and keep the Cubs in comeback range.
  • "Your role that year...If we were down two, three runs, you would be the guy that came in. And every time Grimmer came in, he would bridge the gap...That gave us a chance to win." — David Ross (03:59)
• Mike Montgomery shares being traded from Seattle in 2016, the uncertainty about his role, and eventual adaptation to the Cubs' bullpen environment.
  • "No. Just out of the blue, Cubs trade for [me]...I was like, man, kind of disappointed at first. But then I realized, like, these guys are the best team in baseball. They traded for me. I got to go and find, you know, do my thing." — Mike Montgomery (06:55)

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2. Bullpen Dynamics and Culture (07:50 – 14:44)

• Bullpen Leadership: Lester Strode (“one of my favorite people in the world”—Grimm) and Chris Bosio were praised for managing personalities and helping pitchers adapt.
• Managing Egos/Uncertainty: Emphasis on embracing ambiguous roles for the greater good, as only one closer exists but many capable pitchers want the ball late in games.
  • "You really got to drop the ego because...everybody sitting down there does, right? But, like, if everybody can embrace their role and do it very well, it's going to pay off." — Justin Grimm (09:14)
• Isolation of Relievers: Bullpen pitchers often feel on an “island,” operating separately from starters and position players.
• Clubhouse Culture: The Cubs’ off-field rituals (shots after sweeps, team parties, bonding bus trips) were unique and fostered deep trust.
  • "All the stuff that happened outside of the field...that's the stuff that, as a player, is what separated, I think, us, because I've never been on another team that did that." — Mike Montgomery (15:17)
• Accountability: Players were motivated not to let each other down—pressure was as much about their peers as fans or the city.

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3. Preparing for and Surviving the World Series Pressure (25:24–44:20)

Build-up:

• Discussion turns to the bullpen's shifting roles in the postseason, with resources stretched and usage patterns thrown off.
• "Joe was going to...two guys for the most part. It was Chappy, it was Chappie, and it was Chappie." — David Ross (25:36)

World Series Tension:

• Justin Grimm’s game 3 appearance: Facing a jam with bases loaded, maintaining composure and relying on his signature curveball.
  • "I threw six straight curveballs. I'm shaking to the curveball..." — Justin Grimm (26:43)
  • "I just remember my body, like, it literally had electricity going through it...like, I was just tingling my whole body." — Justin Grimm (27:39)
• Montgomery’s rollercoaster: Used for five out of seven Series games, never sure of his footing on the postseason roster.
  • "Can I make the playoff roster?...I think it was just...I kind of started getting people out, and Joe just kept saying, all right, Monty, you're in." — Mike Montgomery (29:00)

Game 7 (Rain Delay & Final Outs):

• Emotional toll crescendos in the rain delay, with Chapman emotional and everyone steeling themselves.
  • "I remember coming in to Chapman, tearing up, and I was like, holy shit. What did I just walk [into]?" — Mike Montgomery (31:59)
• Montgomery reflects on the enormity:
  • "I’ll never forget the look. They all looked at me as like, please, Mike, please do this. And it was just like, yeah, I was kind of like, nervous. But seeing those guys faces was like, I'm doing it for them." — Mike Montgomery (33:12)
• On coming in to face Michael Martinez with everything at stake, needing to throw a curveball he'd barely controlled at AAA only a couple years before.
  • "It was just all a matchup. And I mean, I didn't go to bed till like 5am every night in the playoffs...the adrenaline spike at 10pm is going to be the highest of your life." — Mike Montgomery (30:31)
• On making history:
  • "If I give it up, city of Chicago is gonna hate. We're not sitting here." — Mike Montgomery (37:45)
• Rizzo on recording that final out, the magnitude of that single baseball, and its journey.
  • "You know how much is 108 years of, like, misery coming to an end? And this is it. I know." — David Ross (46:10)

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4. Aftermath: Relief, Celebration, and Legacy (42:54–48:43)

• Immediate rush of relief and euphoria after the final out, dog-piling memories, and personal vindication.
  • "I just remember the sense of relief of like just rushing through you the same way the adrenaline did...It was my first big year in the big leagues...here I am on the mound and game seven in the middle of the dog pile." — Mike Montgomery (42:54)
• Grimm: "Just running in. I mean, even if you popped a hamstring running in...you wouldn't have felt it. You just be like, whatever, here we go. But, yeah, no, it was just a lot of excitement, relief, and just enjoyed the moment." (44:08)
• The emotional journeys, the trades, and roles that were forced on players—everything culminating in this dramatic, storybook moment.
• Final reflection on the team-wide bond: "It’s crazy because we talk about how the puzzle on our team, like, without every single guy and every character and every role, we don't win. And the story really isn't complete without you guys, the bullpen." — David Ross (48:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Moment | |---|---|---| | 03:08 | Justin Grimm | "When I got traded, they're like, you're gonna go to AAA. And I was just kind of like, well, fuck. Like, that sucks, you know, but, you know, fast forward now. It all worked out."| | 04:59 | David Ross | "Your role that year...If we were down two, three runs, you would be the guy that came in. And every time Grimmer came in, he would bridge the gap...That gave us a chance to win."| | 06:55 | Mike Montgomery | "Cubs trade for [me]...I was like, man, kind of disappointed at first. But then I realized, like, these guys are the best team in baseball."| | 09:14 | Justin Grimm | "You really got to drop the ego because...everyone sitting down there does, right? But, like, if everybody can embrace their role and do it very well, it's going to pay off."| | 15:17 | Mike Montgomery | "All the stuff that happened outside of the field...that's the stuff that, as a player, is what separated, I think, us..."| | 25:36 | David Ross | "Joe was going to...two guys for the most part. It was Chappy, it was Chappie, and it was Chappie."| | 26:43 | Justin Grimm | "I threw six straight curveballs. I'm shaking to the curveball..."| | 27:39 | Justin Grimm | "My body, like, it literally had electricity going through it..."| | 33:12 | Mike Montgomery | "They all looked at me as like, please, Mike, please do this...I'm doing it for them."| | 37:45 | Mike Montgomery | "If I give it up, city of Chicago is gonna hate."| | 42:54 | Mike Montgomery | "I just remember the sense of relief of like just rushing through you...here I am on the mound and game seven in the middle of the dog pile..."| | 48:07 | David Ross | "The story really isn't complete without you guys, the bullpen, and...you will forever be a part of the hype video."|

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:41 – Starting lineup and intros; reminiscence of joining the Cubs
• 07:50 – Bullpen leadership and how roles were managed
• 13:07 – Transition from “we stunk” to “we’re the dudes”; contagious winning
• 15:17 – Team rituals and unique clubhouse culture
• 25:24 – The bullpen’s shifting postseason roles and mental prep for pressure moments
• 26:43 – Grimm’s critical game 3 curveball sequence
• 31:59 – Montgomery’s rain delay experience, emotional locker room, and final out
• 42:54 – Celebration, dog pile, and personal reflection on the legacy
• 48:07 – The irreplaceable nature of every roster piece in the championship

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Episode Takeaways

• The 2016 Cubs bullpen, led by steady hands and unheralded contributors, underpinned the team's resilience, making comeback wins and tightrope finishes possible.
• Clubhouse culture—off-field rituals, mutual accountability, and a willingness to sublimate egos—was foundational for their success.
• The pressure of pitching in the postseason is both isolating and galvanizing; every reliever’s preparation and headspace is vital.
• For Mike Montgomery and Justin Grimm, their improbable journeys—through trades, roster uncertainty, and ever-changing roles—culminated in defining moments of Cubs history.
• The final out of the World Series symbolizes not just the end of a cursed era, but the entwined destinies of dozens of players, each essential.

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Closing Note

This episode is a raw, heartfelt celebration of the 2016 Cubs bullpen and the sustaining power of team chemistry, with the kind of locker room honesty, wit, and humility that only comes from having lived through baseball’s ultimate crucible together.

Transcript

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[David Ross]

Anthony Rizzo David Ross Michael Montgomery Justin Grimm. Welcome to another episode of the lovable Reunion podcast. This episode this week is with Mike Montgomery and Justin Grimm, unsung hero and a World Series hero. Both World Series Hero closed out game seven of the World Series. Welcome guys. On our show, it's been amazing 10 years later, talking about reminiscing on good old times.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

The boys. Back with the boys. It's been fun.

[David Ross]

Grimmer, you. You got traded over here in 13. Yeah. And came up right away. I think you had like a handful of games, right? Yep. We stunk. Fourteen. We stunk. Where? Let's get right into it.

[Justin Grimm]

Where.

[David Ross]

Where were you at? You were in Texas. You were a dude there, right?

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah, I was a starter in Texas, you know, just finding my way. And then the trade happened. I obviously wasn't very happy about it at the time.

[David Ross]

No, really.

[Justin Grimm]

Well, I was in the big leagues. You know, they had a lot of injuries, and so for me, I was kind of like floating, still finding my way. But, you know, then when I got traded, they're like, you're gonna go to aaa. And I was just kind of like, well, well, fuck. Like, that sucks, you know, but, you know, fast forward now. It all worked out. I guess so.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

I remember seeing Arietta was over in the corner, you know, just big broad chest. Who the hell is that guy? Like, you know, that was like, my first reaction, seeing Arietta, but, yeah, so kind of I just came up with him. And Strope was already in the big leagues. I think so, yeah. Came over together.

[David Ross]

Grimmer was such a big part of our teams throughout the years. I mean, you came in 13, but 14, 15, 16, 17.

[Justin Grimm]

Right.

[David Ross]

17 was your last year. And for me, I tell this story all the time. After I was done playing with you in 16, we were so good at coming back, and I put all that on you because your role that year, our bullpen was so deep. Your role was kind of. If we were down two, three runs, you would be the guy that came in. And every time Grimmer came in, he would bridge the gap for the inning or two of relief. That gave us a chance to win. Yeah. And so many times people would ask me, like, what. What's it about this team? Why can't you guys come back? I'm like, well, our bullpen isn't deep enough. And I'm like, what do you mean? Your back end is amazing. And I'm like, I understand that. But the back end can only pitch when we're winning and when we're not winning, if we don't have back end guys, because you are, no doubt. We're a back end guy on that bullpen as well. Bridging that gap and being dominant, we can't come back. And you were always that guy for us in 16. I. I tell that story all the time.

[Justin Grimm]

Awesome.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

Like, my big thing was like, you know, Joe, he's calling down. We're like down two runs. We're up two runs. It could be in the fifth inning, it could be in the eighth inning. You know, it can get tiring mentally. But yeah, I just kinda after me and him had talked, he's like, you're the fireman. You're gonna put the fires out. Right. And you know, one thing, after it was all said and done, it's like, you know, like when you start an inning on your own, you kind of try to get cute. Next thing you know, you're in a mess. And finally I was like, you know, I get out all these fires, like, can you not just let me get. Put my own fire out one time? I got to sit here and watch this.

[Joe Maddon]

Right. So. But yeah, well, that's what good bullpens are made of. The guys that like. And a good staff because the starter's grinding and then, you know, he may have some traffic out there. And how a team interacts and, you know, kind of comes together is because he trusts when you come in to put out his fire. Right. And then the guy behind you comes in and puts out your fire if you don't have it that day.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

And I think that's a big part of what Riz is getting at is like the depth doesn't just mean locking down wins, it means holding a two run deficit.

[David Ross]

Five.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah. Give us a chance to score some runs. Because the best teams I've been on and we've. We've been on those teams that know how to come back. You never give up. Right. And that was one of our slogans. Like, we never give up. Yeah.

[David Ross]

We never quit.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah. So, yeah. It's important.

[David Ross]

Well, and then Moni, the best trade in Cubs history because you closed out the World Series. We'll get to that. But super jealous.

[Joe Maddon]

We thought we were getting a closure the deadline. We just, we thought it was a raw list, but actually.

[David Ross]

Right, right. So Seattle, we get you right right around the All Star Game, early July,

[Mike Montgomery]

and I don't remember the day, but

[David Ross]

Monty comes over and does his thing. You're in the bullpen, you're kind of. You made a few starts too, right?

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah, I was in a weird spot because I was in Seattle and I was like a starter reliever type. And no. Just out of the blue, Cubs trade for. I'm like, kind of like him. I was like, man, kind of disappointed at the in first. But then I realized, like, these guys are the best team in baseball. They traded for me. I got to go and find, you know, do my thing, find what role I'm going to have, right? So I was like, I didn't know if I was going to be in the rotation. They called me. They were like, hey, you're going to be in our bullpen. We'll find a role for you. So it took me a while to kind of jump in and understand, okay, am I going to be the mop up guy? Am I going to be late inning and. And yeah, so that was the hard part. But like you said, the team we had was. It didn't take long because I just was able to fit in and be like, okay, here's where I'm going to do. And you know, here we go.

[David Ross]

Yeah, you, you could probably relate to this because you manage just about 7. How much did Lester Strode, our bullpen coach at the time, Chris Bozio, who probably you guys didn't interact with as much as Lester. Maybe you did and Joe, help with your roles because it's not easy to be in a bullpen role unless you're the closer or the setup guy, right? Like, because you guys are such hybrids. Tell me what you liked about Joe. Tell me what you didn't like. I mean, if there was things you didn't like.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah, well, so first I'll say Lester Stro is one of my favorite people in the world. Just having him down there, like, he knew when, like, we could cut up and then he knew when to tell everybody, get locked in. And he was funny. He was funny about.

[Mike Montgomery]

He had a good pulse on how to manage all of us as a group and individually.

[Justin Grimm]

Absolutely. And then I, I interacted with Bozio a lot. I love the guy and he was just good at, like, coming up to me and just kind of, hey, like, I noticed this or that, like, yeah, let's, let's, let's throw this out and just do this.

[David Ross]

There's no bullpen, though, that I've ever played with that likes the manager. Because you guys are always pissed off and bitter because you think you should

[Mike Montgomery]

be, especially in the National League.

[Justin Grimm]

Everybody, right?

[David Ross]

So that's, that's the relationship.

[Justin Grimm]

Like, you really got to drop the ego because there's no, no doubt I wanted that eighth or ninth inning. Everybody sitting down there does, right? But like, if everybody can embrace their role and do it very well, it's going to pay off when you guys

[Joe Maddon]

are your own little world down there, right? Like, we didn't, you know, me personally, like, Lester took care of you guys. But we didn't like interact with Lester Tro that much, you know, like just he took care of you guys and had that bullpen on lockdown.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

Down there. But to your point of like having not knowing your role and sometimes doing that. Going back to my manage, it's like you kind of get in and out of that trust tree. Right. And you guys feel that when it's like I may have a bad outing, I really want to get back out there. The manager's like, oh, he didn't have the good stuff. I'm going to give him, I'm going give him a couple days, you know, just to try to get on that. And that's a more. So it's a just a confidence hit. And then you think your manager doesn't have confidence in you when you're like, I want to get back in the fight because I had, I didn't have my best stuff the other day, you know.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

For whatever reason.

[Justin Grimm]

Yep, that's right.

[Joe Maddon]

It's hard. It's hard. It's a hard. I think it's the hardest role. It's the shortest lived kind of tenure for guys and, and, and you got to go out there and be ready. And you guys know as well, being in the bullpen, the one thing that we had, we had a lot of healthy guys that posted. Guys posted, you know, they're ready to go. They back to backs, it didn't matter. Three in a row like you guys. And that's a sciences the horses, bro. Horses.

[David Ross]

And Joe wasn't scared to go to you. Joe wasn't scared to ride the ponies.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

You know, and that's why I love Joe. He managed to win every single game. And that's a lost part. Cuz sometimes teams will punt a little bit early. Maybe we've punted a few times, maybe a few games that year, but we were in it to win. Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

I want to know Monty, coming over from a A team to the best team, where you were comfortable. What was the vibe when you first walked in? Did you know we were good? Did you feel a confidence about the group?

[Mike Montgomery]

It was, it was a kind of a hard transition because I came from Seattle, we were young, you know, we had a couple veterans but it was, we were a tight knit group. But it was like I come over, I didn't know what to expect. I had no idea what you guys had going on. And honestly I was just in a. I just want to try to find a role fit in, in the sense of okay, how can I help the team just so I don't get shipped out of here? Right. That's kind of like your mentality when you're. You're young. And I was saying, with our bullpen, we had guys in different stages of our careers where you had the stable end guys, you know, Stropy and these guys that had been there grim had been with the team for a while. But then you had C.J. edwards, me. I know Rob Z. Had kind of been up and down a little bit with us. So we're like new guys on the block, and we're kind of trying to find our way. And with Joe, it was like you were saying, joe, would you have a good outing? You probably gonna get called up the next day. Right. So, you know, if you do well, you're back in there the next day. And that was just what I remember. So if you guys had such. When I first got there, a diverse personality group, and it was almost like a larger than life person, you know, group that I just was kind of. Let me just go. Let me just see what's happening. I don't want to come in and it's good.

[Joe Maddon]

Young.

[Mike Montgomery]

Start throwing.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

You know,

[Mike Montgomery]

I mean, you and Lester and Lackey, it's like, okay, I don't want to be, you know, talking. Let's just listen a little bit and see where everyone's at. Right.

[Joe Maddon]

And grimmer, you were here in some tough times, and I've got to hear the stories of coming in and winning pretty quickly. Like, what changed in your vision when you look back, like, we sucked and then going into, like, oh, we're the dudes.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah. Well, I think one part to that question is we. We had guys like you, Lester Lackey, who had done it before with, you know, the Red Sox and everything. So y' all kind of understood and set that precedent going into 15, I believe. Yep. And then also, I mean, I think just when you just start winning, it gets contagious, and you start to realize it as it's happening. And you're like, you want to be

[David Ross]

a part of it?

[Justin Grimm]

You want to be a part of it? 100% contribute.

[David Ross]

Yeah, yeah. The thing, too, with the thing, too with bullpens over my career is like, dude, you guys are on islands. Like, you guys throw at your own time. You stretch it your own time. The starters are on their own program, but the starters are at least in the dugout with feel like, yeah, I can go if you. If you want in the big leagues, you can go a month without Seeing a reliever.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

Especially with the clubhouses today, how big they are.

[Justin Grimm]

And that's one thing I loved about Joe is like, show up, get your work in. Like, I don't want to see. I used to hate, and this is more of a younger thing when I came up, like, Adrian Beltray was my locker mate.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

You had to get that.

[David Ross]

Probably 11:00am I had to.

[Justin Grimm]

If I didn't get to the field before he got there, like, my locker was like, thrown to.

[David Ross]

And he's the old Panther in the freezer.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

So then I go shift into Joe and I'm like, man, I. I hated getting there early and just sit in my locker just fiddling, like, I. I got nothing to do for three hours, you know, so I'd like, I'd get there, you know, just get going. I love that.

[Joe Maddon]

What's the story, you guys, looking back and we'll talk through all the cool contributions. But, like, when you tell your friends stories about that team or your ass or your favorite memory or moment or game, like, what comes to mind?

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah. Nah, I go with the humble approach. I'm like, man, I was just a part of a really special group of people and I was just happy to be there. And they're like, oh, come on. You know, like. So I just kind of take that run.

[Joe Maddon]

You talk about road trips or bus trips or stores. Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

Carefully. Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

All the stuff that happened outside of the field, like clubhouse bus trips, you know, pre game rituals, speeches, like, that's the stuff that, as a player, is what separated, I think, us, because I've never been on another team that did that. Even.

[David Ross]

You get traded over, bro. We're taking shot. We sweep. Yeah, we take shots. There's. There's going on Series, Game 7.

[Mike Montgomery]

We're all that kind of stuff. Having been on a lot of teams, you're like, that. We never did that. But, you know, does that mean that's why we were winning? Maybe. But, you know, we just had the group of guys that I worked with, so it was that stuff that I remember the most. And then. But as far as, like, playing wise, I. The biggest thing I remember is I'm going into the game because I don't. I don't want to let you down or you, or you in the bullpen. I'm kind of there for you guys more than I was to break the curse or what, you know, the. The winning. It was more just to not let you guys down. That's.

[David Ross]

I mean, that's what this team was about, honestly. Because all The. The rituals we did on the field, all the rituals we did off the field. We did take shots before the games. We partied after the games, but it was. We did it together, and it wasn't like we enjoyed it. Right. And that's what made us. Us. I say we're like the motley crew. Like, we would just come in and wreak havoc. And without. I. I've been saying this to everyone. Like, without all the pieces to the puzzle, we don't win. Right. Like, without you bridging the gap on a lot of games that help us with the comebacks or coming in and putting out the fires without you getting traded over. Like, you came in in the biggest. The most important part of history, right? You are literally part of history forever. We all are. But you're the last person that I'm jealous.

[Joe Maddon]

Well, you said, right. You got the.

[David Ross]

You had no idea.

[Mike Montgomery]

I didn't know I was in that role.

[David Ross]

But as part of, like, looking back on it, you were ready for that. And I feel like, as being one of the guys on the team, like, proud because, like, bro, you came over, got traded, and like, it's our job now to make you feel quickly comfortable and like yourself. And that's what Joe always preached. Like, be yourself. If you look hot, wear it. So when guys come over, it's like, dude, fit in. Here you go. This is what we do.

[Joe Maddon]

You said last night we were talking and telling stories about just the season. You were like, Ross Ich remember throwing you. He was like, I didn't want to let you down. It was like, I'm like, dude, that's terrible. Teammate, you know, And I was. But I think, like, part of that is, like, we held each other to a high standard on that team, right? And you're talking about lack and, you know, lack, Lack. So was I. But lack was like an angry. The day he pitched, right?

[David Ross]

Like, you got angry elves.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah, we're angry elves. Very.

[Mike Montgomery]

And don't talk to talk to you guys. The day.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah, they were playing, thank God, only played once a month. You know what I mean? It's like it was. But that was part of that stuff. You talking about bringing over and that expectation of being great and the fact we were so close. I look back, like, a lot of guys said nice stuff about me and how I got my reputation. It wasn't me talking about myself, my teammates saying nice things about, like, how I. Who I was and how I treated them. And when you look back on, it was every, like, these stories we're telling it's everybody coming together as a family because of all those cool culture. And Joe created that because of the freedom he gave us.

[David Ross]

Well, David had a way of.

[Joe Maddon]

And it's not about me.

[David Ross]

We can make it about me later on. It's not about you later on in my career. So now I'm gonna make it about me. I got a very good compliment, and I got. Take this from you. The problem was, I don't understand how you can literally motherfuck someone right to their face, and then when you're done with the conversation, they're smiling and they feel good about it. When you just buried them. He. He. And that was literally to you, to a T, how you can portray. And it was a leadership quality that you had because it was like. It wasn't like you were actually burying something. You were just getting on someone for the truth, out of love. And you would bury him by doing it. But then you'd walk away and feel good about it. And I. Like, there'd be times where I walk away. I'm like, wait, what?

[Joe Maddon]

But I. I felt like, yes, that was me. Yeah. But I also gave the most love. I feel like on the team, when guys, I watched the game.

[David Ross]

Oh, yeah, because you watched fucking 140 games from the bench.

[Joe Maddon]

I always called myself my team. Everybody's like, what? I was like, you're the backup character. I was like, actually, I was just the best cheerleader on the team. I sat there and just clapped and watched Miggy and, you know, caught Lester. Every once in a while, I like to say, babysit. You know, babysit Lester a little for seven innings. And if he stunk, they took me out of the game, too. I'm like, wait a minute. I want my bats. You know, I wouldn't. It's not my fault. But that culture that was created and those expectations is, I think, what made us. Made us all good. Everybody was trying to lift each other up and playing for one another. And that's the best teams I've been on, too.

[David Ross]

The bullpen is the most important starting pitching. Bullpen, Right. Pitching defense.

[Joe Maddon]

Hey, I'm telling you, you can't get your head out of that phone. Get on that phone. Let's get some seat geek seats for Chesney at the Sphere. Unbelievable show.

[David Ross]

Chesney at the Sphere, Rufus at Wrigley. Are you kidding me?

[Joe Maddon]

Rufus De Soul.

[David Ross]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

Let's go.

[David Ross]

If you want me, this is why

[Joe Maddon]

I want to give a sponsor shout out to seatgeek where we get our tickets. There's Nothing better than getting on there and getting really good seats last minute. That's how I roll.

[David Ross]

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[Joe Maddon]

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[David Ross]

We just saw him at Tortuga too.

[Joe Maddon]

We saw him at Tortuga. Was amazing. I want to see him in the sphere. It's going to be electric. Go to Las Vegas. Clip on Las Vegas. See all the seats. We got to get me and you tickets, right? So let's pick right here. How many? How many seats we need? Two. There we are. We got all the choices.

[David Ross]

You're buying.

[Joe Maddon]

I'll pay.

[Mike Montgomery]

I'll pay.

[Joe Maddon]

Or we can call Kenny. We can call Kenny. Seatgeek has your back. Each ticket is rated from a scale of 1 to 10, so you know if you're getting a good deal or not. Look for the green dot. Green means good, red means bad. Pretty simple. Plus, every ticket is backed by their buyer guarantee. And of course, I have a code for you guys. You can use code LovableReunion10 for 10% off of your next set of tickets. At SeatGeek, that's 10% off any tickets with promo code LovableReunion10. Make sure you click the link in the description to download the app and have the code automatically added to your account so you can use it later. Thank you, seatgeek.

[Sarah Spain]

This is Sarah Spain from Good Game with Sarah Spain, brought to you in part by Vital Farms. Let's talk eggs. Vital Farms pasture raised eggs, to be exact. My favorites. The only kind I've got in my fridge. No joke. And here's why. These aren't your average eggs. The hens live on open pastures with fresh air and sunshine. All year long, they forage on local grasses and stretch their wings. They're living their best life. That care really shows in the taste. I love mine scrambled with a little butter or whipped up into a fancy frittata. And here's something most people don't know. You could trace your eggs back to the farm they came from. Seriously? Side of the carton you'll find the farm name. Type it [e-mail] farm and you'll get a 360 degree peek at the pasture. Plus Vital Farms is a certified B corporation, which means they're committed to improving the lives of people, animals and the planet through food Eggs you could feel good about. So next time you're in the store, look for the black carton in the egg aisle and visit vitalfarms.com to learn more. Vital Good Eggs no shortcuts this is

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[David Ross]

We took advantage of the Giants. They had a weak bullpen that year, and that was kind of their Achilles. We move on. But let's get to the World Series in that mentality because the bullpen was in disarray.

[Justin Grimm]

Right.

[David Ross]

Joe was going to, like, two guys for the most part. It was. It was Chappy, it was Chappie, and it was Chappie.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

Three guys.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

And your guys's roles were so. From what we did in the season.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

So sporadic. You had no idea. How do you guys stay locked in in the World Series to be your very best?

[Joe Maddon]

Well, you came in. You came in. Bases low with game three.

[David Ross]

Game three, three, one out.

[Justin Grimm]

Yep. Well, no, I felt like you had

[Joe Maddon]

pitched in a month. We hadn't seen you.

[Justin Grimm]

I know. I came in first and second. KB bobbled it. Like, he always makes the play. Bobbles it. Now I got base loaded, one out. Mike, you had been warming.

[Mike Montgomery]

I was gonna say, before he even

[Justin Grimm]

went in, Raja Davis can't hit a curveball. I understand this. Right. We're gonna throw him a curveball. But then it was like, well, now I got Lindor. And I. Honestly, there was a point I was out there. I was like, mike's got in the door. And then I, I, I, I don't. Maybe I recall. I'm pretty sure I stepped off the mound for a second, was like, hold on, here we go.

[Joe Maddon]

Like, locked it back in.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Justin Grimm]

And I threw six straight curveballs. I'm shaking to the curveball.

[Joe Maddon]

The nastiest curveball on the team.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

Two years I was there.

[Mike Montgomery]

Thanks.

[Justin Grimm]

Appreciate it.

[Mike Montgomery]

Really good.

[Justin Grimm]

I'm shaking and catch calls. Time looks over, and I was like,

[Joe Maddon]

he goes like that.

[Justin Grimm]

And I was like, well, here we go. I'm either gonna walk him in or something's gotta happen. So I remember telling myself, don't make it nasty. Just throw it. And it ended up working out, bro.

[David Ross]

I remember that.

[Joe Maddon]

Your emotions, we're right there.

[David Ross]

You're here, I'm here. I'm the emotion of that. And just because we've been together now for three, four years, like, yeah, we. I know your wife. Like, yeah, I know you. So we got along well. We fought.

[Justin Grimm]

We got Along.

[David Ross]

Yeah, you were a staple. And it's like that emotion, seeing you do that and like, reliving that and watching it 10 years later is like, dude, that was awesome. What a moment.

[Justin Grimm]

I, I, I just remember my body, like, it literally had electricity going through it. Like, I was just tingling my whole body, like, you know, but.

[David Ross]

And Mike, you threw, what, five out of seven games.

[Mike Montgomery]

I was going to say in that moment, it was a relief when you did that because they had called down and said, you're in if he doesn't the next batter. So it was either a double play. Even if you would have struck him out, I probably would have been in there. So that was like, I like the weight it was lifted off me because coming in bases loaded situation, there's, you know, you can't feel your feet when in those moments you're like, oh, that's confident. But you're also, like, so scared.

[Joe Maddon]

Can't feel my body.

[David Ross]

There's so much that goes into the bullpen that no average fan, even if you're such a fan of the game, you have no idea what these guys go through every day.

[Joe Maddon]

I mean, we get it. We're. We've got a, I've got a zero era.

[David Ross]

Yeah. Well, it's not about us.

[Joe Maddon]

It's not about me.

[David Ross]

I got MVPs.

[Joe Maddon]

I'm in the.

[Justin Grimm]

Make it look easy throwing under speed,

[David Ross]

but in the world, when, in the World Series, when, when Joe, Joe was going to his guys, right, it was pretty much Chappie.

[Joe Maddon]

And well, before we got Chappy, it was Rondon, Stropey, those other guys going

[Mike Montgomery]

into the playoffs, and C.J.

[Joe Maddon]

c.J. Was going, well, when in the playoffs,

[David Ross]

I was just like, you were the lefty.

[Mike Montgomery]

Hey, can I make the playoff roster? Roster, Right. I didn't.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

You know, I'm like, hey, can I just be on the playoff roster to just be there? And I think it was just. I kind of started getting people out, and Joe just kept saying, all right, Monty, you're in. And it just kind of, I think the way the game shaped in the playoffs that year, and especially the World Series, and it was more the matchups, too, because, you know, he was always about, okay, here's your batters that we want you to face because this guy can't hit a certain pitch.

[David Ross]

Is Joe telling you guys that or is that Lester?

[Mike Montgomery]

I think it's, I mean, Bozio did a lot of that.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

And then communication did a lot of that. And I know Tommy was involved in that a lot. So it was Kind of like in all those pitchers meetings it was like if we were to play a different team that had different style hitters, it could have been him on the mountain in the last out. You know I think it was just like four or five hitters in the Cleveland lineup that would hit left handed curveballs. Yeah. Or like weren't as good at, you know, whatever I threw, sinker change up when you know that combination. So that was just, it was just all a matchup. And I mean I didn't go to bed till like 5am every night in the playoffs and some nights it was starting to get light out and I'm like okay, I gotta. But there was just so much adrenaline because you don't know if that night you're gonna be out there to give it up to get the out. Like the adrenaline spike at 10pm is going to be the highest of your life.

[David Ross]

Yeah, right.

[Mike Montgomery]

And that's something that I remember. I mean it took a lot, a lot of time to like calm down.

[David Ross]

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[Joe Maddon]

For a limited time, Nutrifol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrfold.com and enter promo code T R.

[David Ross]

That's neutrful.com spelled N U T R A F O L.com promo code T

[Joe Maddon]

R. What you think they can't spell

[David Ross]

it after I say it?

[Joe Maddon]

Spill it out.

[David Ross]

We're doing a hair product ad and you have a hat on. So why don't you show the, the viewers what you're.

[Joe Maddon]

I got a hat on cuz I need some neutropol in my life.

[David Ross]

Think about how much better your hair is going to look after taking neutral.

[Joe Maddon]

Think about how much more money I would make if I had your flow.

[David Ross]

Well, my hair is starting to look better thanks to neutral.

[Joe Maddon]

Oh man. So jealous. Let's jump into that because like obviously the biggest out, the final out of the World Series, right. You're, you're down there in the bullpen warming up. You pitch the night before it with multiple innings, game six, 50 pitches.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

So like you're and, and we've got everybody down there. Arietta, Woody had let us in appearances in that play, that, that playoffs. Right. So like yeah, Woody's big part and your numbers called.

[David Ross]

Well where are you guys at before like with the rain delay the speech because you guys were both.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

In the job.

[Mike Montgomery]

Come in.

[Justin Grimm]

I came in.

[Mike Montgomery]

You Came in. I. I stayed out there with Jake, and I believe. I think it was me, Jake and maybe Noble, I'm not sure, but we kind of. We came in late. And I remember coming in to Chapman, tearing up, and I was like, holy shit. What did I just walk? You know, and guys are like, around him, I'm like, this is our guy. He's being emotional. And John and you guys, I don't know who it was, but. And it was just kind of like a surreal moment. And it just was quick because by that time it was like, okay, five minutes later. Yeah, we're going.

[David Ross]

You're going. Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

And I remember going out with CJ and going, hey, cj. It could come down to one of us.

[David Ross]

CJ was ready, bro. CJ came in throwing pellets. And when Joe pulled him, I was surprised because, like, he walked. He had two outs and he walked a guy. And I was like, all right.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

Or he gave up the hit.

[Mike Montgomery]

He took second.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

Just for free or whatever. And then it was a base hit, but.

[David Ross]

Or Raja got another hit.

[Justin Grimm]

I remember.

[Mike Montgomery]

Do you remember that moment, like, before I went in, like the last out? I remember from my perspective, it was. I'd never seen guys like Lester or, I mean, Lackey was down there. Arietta, you.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

A few other. Strope and Rondon. And they. I'll never forget the look. They all looked at me as like, please, Mike, please do this. And it was just like, yeah, I was kind of like, nervous. You know, the cameras are on you as you're going. It's like 20 stairs you got to go down in Cleveland. But seeing those guys faces was like, I'm doing it for them. Like, I. I lost any sense of where I was in the moment. And I was like, these guys that I've been with and had that bond with over the last few months, unlike any other team I've been on, I can't mess it up or I'm going to do what I can to for them. And that was why I always feel that way of coming into that moment was. It was more seeing, you know, Lackey and Grim and less or Arietta's face and doing it okay for them.

[Joe Maddon]

What do you remember about the rain delays?

[Justin Grimm]

Well, so it couldn't have happened at a better time because obviously the momentum swing their way and the crowd was electric and the hit happened. My heart. My heart sunk. I was like, oh, no. Like, here we go, you know, but not a lot of people know this. Me and Strope were warming up While you were pitching to Raja Davis, this trope's like, I don't know.

[Mike Montgomery]

We warming up, papi.

[Joe Maddon]

It's over if they fucking get a hit.

[David Ross]

No, that was Michael Martinez.

[Mike Montgomery]

You talking about Martinez?

[Joe Maddon]

Martinez?

[David Ross]

I'll tell you what. When Joe called down. When Joe called down, I was like, lonnie's coming in. I was like, why the you taking C.J. out? Yeah, and. But.

[Joe Maddon]

Well, then I was like in. Strobe was in my mind. From a catcher standpoint, he just didn't know what.

[David Ross]

Where. Where it was going after Chap.

[Mike Montgomery]

It's all match and it wasn't like a lefty right. Like, Martinez is a switch hitter. So, yeah, I. And at that time, when they pinch

[Joe Maddon]

hit Martinez, per Coco Crisp.

[Mike Montgomery]

Two or three innings before.

[Joe Maddon]

Two or three innings before.

[Mike Montgomery]

If it was Coco, Chris, I. He was the hardest, the best against lefty. So there's no chance I would have been in if it was him. But because it was Martinez and they had said he had not hit a left hand curveball all season. Yeah, bro, you. You didn't have one hit on landing.

[Joe Maddon]

That's what I just don't like. I want people to grasp is you're young in your first World Series. You're coming with two outs, a fast guy on first, right?

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

I had to make sure when you came in, I was like, well, Raj's fixed to steal off cj. He's not quick to the plate, and he's a second. And now we're. Now here we go again. And you came in. And I was like, well, at least we've got a left. A lefty staring at. Maybe he won't go first. Move. And then you landed breaking ball. Strike. Swallowed. And I'm like, that's impressive. And then, you know, just that, right? Just landing that first one with all

[David Ross]

that seven of the World Series, like, yeah, everything's on the line.

[Joe Maddon]

Flipping a break.

[David Ross]

We're winning.

[Joe Maddon]

You had a good breaking ball.

[David Ross]

We win. We're the champs.

[Mike Montgomery]

I know.

[David Ross]

And you do it again.

[Mike Montgomery]

And it's kind of ironic because two, let's see, three years before, two years before I'd set the International League, I was in Durham aaa. The record for wild pitches. Oh, no, I would say 12 of them.

[Joe Maddon]

It's that Triple A fever, baby.

[David Ross]

Trying to make everything.

[Mike Montgomery]

Twelve of them came from curveballs. Like, I didn't throw a curveball until I started signed. Like, I was not a good curveball guy up until a few months leading into that. I was more of like a pitch ability change. Up, you know, mix up speed, whatever. And, you know, my. My dad's like, it took 27 years for you to be. To. To land one curveball, right? And. And that was kind of.

[David Ross]

And you did back to back, and

[Mike Montgomery]

I did it twice. And. And it was like. It wasn't even, like. I don't know, like, you know, it's one of those divine intervention moments where probably couldn't have done it. And two years before, I couldn't throw a curveball. Like, I sucked at throwing a curveball. And it was like, how did I end up going into that season? The Mariners were like, you're not going to make our team. Japan had offered me. I was considering going there. And five, six months later, I'm on the mountain in the World Series in game seven, right? And I land all I had to do. And even warming up for that game, you asked Chad. I was spiking them. I was launching them. He, like, came up with me.

[Justin Grimm]

Two balls went to the visiting bullpen.

[Joe Maddon]

I was like, okay, here we go. Here we go. It's like a good bp. Take good bp. You're like, you're worried about your game. You have a bad bullpen. You're like, I'll be locked in out there.

[Mike Montgomery]

And. But that's what I mean. It was just. It was meant to be. Because I go in there and let's be honest, if I give it up, city of Chicago is gonna hate.

[David Ross]

We're not sitting here.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah, we're not sitting here.

[David Ross]

We're not, bro.

[Mike Montgomery]

Our lives.

[Joe Maddon]

Oh, no. If we give it up, though, I let, like, seven runs in the stand. Yeah. Yeah. Didn't block one. Two runs come in.

[David Ross]

When? In that ninth inning, I had. I was so nervous at first base. Like, it's freezing out. It's even colder. Because I'm nervous. I put so much pine tar in my glove. And when. When Martinez hit that ball off you, I'm like, that's my. Because I thought he was a lot faster. We hadn't seen him in the series.

[Joe Maddon]

And I'm like, when it felt like a chopper, I was going to ask

[Justin Grimm]

you, like, what's going through your mind? Is the balls coming to you? Like, don't miss.

[David Ross]

Oh, yeah. I'm playing far off the back, so I'm head down, sprinting, and I look up to KB and he has it with his little smirk on his face, and he kind of sails it and slips. I'm like, oh, yeah. So I go up, and I'm like, please catch this. Yeah. Like, I'm so scared because you know in those moments, any mistake is anything life changing as far as much as winning is life changing. Like any little mistake in that big moment, you're like forever in hit like it's bad history in Chicago up until this point.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah. Yep.

[David Ross]

So that. But we catch that ball, bro. The celebration like coming and jumping on you like the brotherhood and all of it was just.

[Joe Maddon]

What do you remember about that? The celebration, the relief, the parade.

[Sarah Spain]

Like this is Sarah Spain from Good Game with Sarah Spain, brought to you in part by Vital Farms. Let's talk eggs. Vital Farms pasture raised eggs to be exact. My favorites. The only kind I've got in my fridge. No joke. And here's why. These aren't your average eggs. The hens live on open pastures with fresh air and sunshine all year long. They forage on local grasses and stretch their wings. They're living their best life. That care really shows in the taste. I love mine scrambled with a little butter or whipped up into a fancy frittata. And here's something most people don't know. You could trace your eggs back to the farm they came from. Seriously. Side of the carton, you'll find the farm name. Type it [e-mail] farm and you'll get a 360 degree peek at the pasture. Plus, Vital Farms is a certified B corporation, which means they're committed to improving the lives of people, animals and the planet through food. Eggs you could feel good about. So next time you're in the store, look for the black carton in the egg aisle and visit vitalfarms.com to learn more. Vital Good Eggs no shortcuts. Think about it.

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[Mike Montgomery]

I remember. I mean, like you say, it's, it's a blur, but yeah, and I see pictures and I just remember the sense of relief of like just rushing through you the same way the adrenaline did. You know, going into the moment when the sense of relief was even more than the adrenaline and being in the middle of the dog pile and seeing that picture now, oh, it's incredible. It, you know, it was my first big year in the big leagues, first full year in the big leagues and I was down and out going into the season. And then here I am on the mound and game seven in the middle of the dog pile and it was, it was a lot of like, just sense of, okay, I finally, you know, I wasn't thinking. But now looking back in that moment, it was like, like, yeah, I did it for everyone else. Everyone's happy. But for me, like yourself, I did it for myself. Like, how many people counted me out?

[David Ross]

No one knew you.

[Mike Montgomery]

No one. No one even knew about me ever being the Cubs. It's like, okay, I'm the. The mop up guy, but to go in there and do that, like, it just gave me a sense of like, okay, I did it. You know?

[Joe Maddon]

Like, what about you? Grimmer.

[Justin Grimm]

Just running in. I mean, even if you popped a hamstring running in.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yes.

[Justin Grimm]

You wouldn't have felt it. You just be like, whatever, here we go. But, yeah, no, it was just a lot of excitement, relief, and just enjoyed the moment.

[David Ross]

The beauty of hearing was there.

[Justin Grimm]

Everything was all these stories.

[David Ross]

Hearing all these stories is like each guy was going through their own journey. Like, yeah, you. You telling the story about the curveball. Like, dude, if I knew that, I would have been even.

[Mike Montgomery]

Right?

[David Ross]

My pants. Even more. Your journey. As I started getting pissed off of getting traded and then where it ended up. Right?

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

And it's Theo, the first two years,

[Justin Grimm]

say, hey, man, I think I'm training as a starter.

[David Ross]

Yeah, I know. I remember.

[Justin Grimm]

He goes, yeah, no, that's. That's great. He goes, but we're gonna need you in the bullpen.

[David Ross]

He goes, because you were too comfortable.

[Justin Grimm]

He goes, I got six starters and five spots. He said, I'm paying six stars and I got five spots.

[David Ross]

I was like, all right, all right.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah, I want to be on the team.

[David Ross]

Yeah, I'm not going to Des Moines. Rossi and I had. Going into the playoffs, right? We. We were winning the World Series going to the playoffs, right? And in our playoff share meeting, we gave out an insane amount of playoff shares.

[Joe Maddon]

It was a record up to that point. I don't know, pass it, but I think we got the most shares.

[Justin Grimm]

Did y' all not mess, like, so, like, Tim Bus brought up, but y' all were messing with Rizzo, and, like, we were just going through the player shares like, ah, like, you know, Tim bust, what, like, quarter of a share,

[Joe Maddon]

and Rizzo's like, what? This guy's been with us all year.

[David Ross]

He got hot. I fought for my guys.

[Joe Maddon]

He was for everybody.

[Justin Grimm]

Calm down, dude.

[David Ross]

We're joking.

[Joe Maddon]

His heart, his generosity came out those meetings. He was fighting for everybody.

[Justin Grimm]

It's good.

[David Ross]

Rossi and I had this master plan, though, because we were so close of. He's catching on, playing first. The likelihood of us catching these balls to move on are high. So I caught the DS ball to send us to the cs. The CS ball to send us to the World Series. And we were like, bro, if we get the trifecta like, this would be worth a lot. So I get the World Series, I throw it in the pocket, and the rest history. But later on, did you pre plan

[Mike Montgomery]

that, or is that just.

[David Ross]

Yeah, bro. Are you kidding me? You know how much of that, like, in my head, I'm like, you know, how much is 108 years of, like, misery coming to an end? And this is it. I know.

[Joe Maddon]

This is my extension waiting for, right?

[Mike Montgomery]

Yep. And that was my first save.

[David Ross]

I know. So. So Mike comes up to me, like, at some point during this celebration, like, I have this ball, like, security guarded. Like, I have our head security with it. Get it authenticated right then and there. Get it back. Like, you do not touch this ball. Right. Don't want champagne on it. And Mike comes over to me. Hey, Riz. Like, you think I can get that ball? Like, that was my first. That was my first ever save in, like, any part of my career. Like, it would just mean a lot. Like, my first save ever. And I'm just like, yeah, right, dude. I laughed it off.

[Joe Maddon]

Body.

[David Ross]

Poor body. Eventually, I ended up giving the ball back to Mr. Ricketts. Everyone asked me, which you have to. But it was just, like, the emotions of all of it.

[Mike Montgomery]

And, well, the amount of people that ask me, like, hey, did you get that ball?

[David Ross]

Oh, bro.

[Mike Montgomery]

Same if it was a game number 94 of the regular season.

[David Ross]

Yeah, you're getting it right away.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

[Mike Montgomery]

And so that's. Everyone asked, like, the number two question besides, like, how was it? Say, it was like, did you get the ball? Where's the ball from your first save? And I was like, well, you saw Rizzo put it in his pocket. And, you know, I. I think you did it right, though. Like, it belongs in Cooperstown, which is probably where it is, so.

[Joe Maddon]

Probably here. I caught the last out in Red Sox, and I kept the ball November. Nobody asked me for it. And then I had it from. Remember when Koji came here? Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

I had found out in my time away from that he had every ball from every save except that one. He never. I don't even think he knew where the ball was, so I brought it to him here. No way specialist yet. So he's got that now somewhere in his case, I think.

[Mike Montgomery]

Wow. Well, the.

[David Ross]

It's crazy because we talk about how the puzzle on our team, like, without every single guy and every character and every role, we don't win. And the story really isn't complete without you guys, the bullpen, and, like, you at the end coming in. And, bro, like, no one had that on their card of you closing out game like you will forever be a

[Justin Grimm]

part of the hype video.

[David Ross]

Not we all grow. But you were ready. You were ready. And that's testament to our team. It's testament how close we were and it's the reason we're sitting here 10 years later. Reminiscence.

[Mike Montgomery]

Yeah.

[David Ross]

So we appreciate you guys.

[Joe Maddon]

We love you guys. Yeah. Thanks for your time too. This is amazing.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer (Lowe's)]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

No, this is. It's fun to talk about because like you said, there's stories that you don't know about, but we're getting them all. Yeah. Right. Getting all the stories and.

[Justin Grimm]

Yep.

[Mike Montgomery]

Well, and it's fun.

[David Ross]

Cheers to another 10 years.

[Justin Grimm]

Yeah.

[Mike Montgomery]

Let's do it.

[Joe Maddon]

Yeah, let's do it.

[David Ross]

Right.

[Joe Maddon]

All right, boys. Thank you.

[David Ross]

Yeah.

[Joe Maddon]

That was great. Good one for us.

[David Ross]

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