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UNC's Scott Forbes, Jackson Van De Brake and Alex Madera after Friday win over Duke #UNC
Apr 4, 2025
UNC's Scott Forbes, Jackson Van De Brake and Alex Madera after Friday win over Duke #UNC
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0:00
grab it really really fast. Go up two to
0:02
one. Nobody's going to talk about that.
0:04
He got the next three guys out really
0:06
quick. I think they score more there
0:08
that momentum grows. So Jake was himself
0:11
didn't strike out as many. And he'll
0:14
tell you his fast ball command wasn't as
0:15
good as it's been to both sides of the
0:17
plate. But that tells you how good he is
0:18
and what type of stuff he has cuz he was
0:20
able to get under their barrel enough to
0:22
keep the ball in the ballpark except for
0:24
Albrights. And then I thought Lynch was
0:26
outstanding on that last inning.
0:28
Obviously, we get that lead off out. Um,
0:30
and we got to learn from that, but that
0:32
was a tough pitch. It got away supposed
0:33
to be glove side and went armside like
0:35
94 and then that's how we drew it up.
0:38
Just brought in McDuffy and figured we
0:40
would make it dicey and end with a
0:42
double play. But I do want to point out
0:44
Jackson Vanderbre too and Perry Har
0:46
bottom of our order. I feel like that's
0:48
the first time I've seen co Jackson and
0:50
coach Weir spent all week working and we
0:53
think we've That doesn't mean he's going
0:54
to start hitting like crazy, but we feel
0:56
like he's back in that mechanical spot
0:59
he was in in 2023. And I thought he
1:01
really had a had some really good swings
1:03
and um you know three 0 swing got enough
1:06
of it and Perry hustling around there
1:08
get you know got us the win. First time
1:10
that Jackson's left the yard in a while.
1:12
What does it say like his resilience and
1:14
just his journey after last year and now
1:15
this year? I just enjoy being around him
1:18
every day. I know how lucky we are that
1:19
he is here. And it's a credit to him
1:21
because a lot of kids, in my opinion,
1:23
the not knowing is hard. What you do
1:26
know is if you leave, you can go play at
1:29
a top division 2 school. Um, and he
1:31
stuck with it and waited and waited and
1:33
waited. And I think he got rewarded for
1:35
that. I know he got rewarded for that.
1:37
He was a big time leader for us last
1:39
year. He's had good at bats. He just
1:41
hasn't snung a lot of balls, but I feel
1:43
like he was in a good place with that
1:44
first ball that he pulled. That was
1:46
really good to see cuz he's had a lot of
1:48
flares to right field. And uh that's why
1:50
I had I gave an assist to coach Jackson
1:52
cuz I looked over there at him and we
1:55
have some ways that we communicate.
1:56
We've known each other a long time and
1:58
it's three 0 count. I'm just kind of
1:59
thinking, man, give him three 0 and he
2:01
was like, so we gave him a three 0 and
2:03
he gets the assist for that home run. ju
2:06
to get technical for a second. Talk
2:07
about him getting into that um the
2:10
mechanical spot that he was two years
2:12
ago. What what specifically are you
2:13
talking about there? You know, we just
2:14
went back all together and spent a ton
2:16
of time me coach Jackson and coach
2:18
Weers, but mostly Coach Wears Vicki of
2:20
just watching his swing in 23 just
2:22
trying to put it beside his swing now.
2:25
Um and what we think we came to the
2:27
conclusion is he's gotten so much bigger
2:30
and stronger. He's kind of hitting with
2:31
that strength instead of being quicker.
2:34
Um, and he's staying up more
2:35
mechanically so he can get more
2:37
clearance. His swing just looked a lot
2:38
quicker and more direct. And Jackson's
2:40
always been a kid that if you make a
2:41
mistake middle end, no matter what the
2:43
velocity is. We found we found three
2:45
swings in 23. One was against you Savage
2:48
at 96, William Mary pitcher at 95 and
2:52
another pitcher like 94 and they were
2:54
like inner third. He just boom. Um, so
2:56
they worked on that and I could tell in
2:57
BP he felt really good, which is a big
2:59
part of it as well. But the kids got to
3:01
put in the work and he puts in the work.
3:03
So that was cool to see him be rewarded
3:05
for it. Perry sort of played, didn't
3:09
play back out there for you. He He had
3:11
some adventures, but made the plays in
3:12
left field, but walk us through the He
3:14
caught every ball last. That's what I
3:16
said. It was adventure, but he caught
3:18
them and that's all that matters. But
3:19
walk us through that last play here. He
3:21
didn't slow down in third. No, that's
3:23
what I told the team. You know, one
3:24
thing Perry Har since the day he's
3:26
walked on here, since the day we
3:27
recruited him, he goes hard. And that's
3:29
what he's learning in the outfield is I
3:31
have to slow down a little bit with my
3:32
first step, which he's getting better
3:34
at. So, you know, when you're coaching
3:36
third in that situation, the guy's being
3:37
pulled back, you think it might be bang
3:39
bang always with Kley, but when he's
3:42
going that hard, you think, okay, why
3:43
wouldn't we send him right there? And
3:45
Luke's been struggling a little bit, but
3:47
I felt him, you know, I could see him
3:48
moving deep. And Perry never slowed
3:50
down. And uh, you know, that gave him
3:52
the opportunity to slide in there safe.
3:54
You got the Tiger Woods fist bump. I was
3:57
pumped. Yeah, I was pumped because
3:58
that's something that we work on. Like
4:00
people don't see that type of stuff.
4:02
Busting your tail, hitting the inside of
4:03
the bag, getting in in that lane, and
4:06
having a chance to score cuz I want to
4:08
be a senu in that situation depending on
4:11
who the base runner is. Um, and I didn't
4:13
know he was going to fall. Uh, I
4:15
thought, you know, maybe he'll pull uh
4:18
whoever's playing first off the bag.
4:19
And, you know, lucky for us, he fell
4:21
down and Perry was hustling. Perry Kane,
4:24
I mean, the base running, the speed on
4:25
the base pass, especially when you have
4:26
a small margin like this. How important
4:28
is that to put pressure on the opposing
4:30
pitch? You know, that's something that
4:31
we can do. It's distributed throughout
4:33
the lineup and we have good base
4:34
runners, too, and Vandy and Gavin down
4:36
there at the bottom. But Perry does have
4:38
that speed. He can hit anybody's fast
4:40
ball. Um, and he's never scared. um just
4:44
certain things that we it's on us as
4:46
coaches for him to get continue to get
4:48
better as an outfielder, continue to get
4:49
better as a bunner, but that is
4:51
something you want to be able to do. And
4:52
that's what's allowed us to still win
4:55
games because we were in, you know, a
4:57
tough stretch and still, you know, some
4:58
of our guys just haven't gotten going
5:01
going, but they still have had some
5:02
pretty quality at bats. And I remind
5:05
them the other day, I mean, Luke and
5:06
Keley and Gavin, they hadn't really got
5:09
going, but they're going to get going
5:10
because you get hot eventually. And then
5:12
I mean that last play, Alex, what do you
5:14
say about a play like that? You know,
5:16
we've been debating because obviously we
5:17
had him and Kobe Wilkerson in the
5:19
middle. Um I mean he is as good as a
5:22
shorts stop just like Kobe. He's got a
5:24
quick release. The only time
5:26
occasionally he'll get a ball that's
5:27
just hit directly to him like any short
5:29
stop. He should have shuffled his feet,
5:30
but he's got that quick exchange, that
5:33
quick release. Um, and you saw why while
5:36
obviously when him and Kobe were
5:37
together, why we didn't give any extra
5:39
outs last year and then you had Vance in
5:42
center, so it was hard to score. But
5:43
that's an that's an unbelievable play.
5:45
If you go back and watch and you watch
5:46
how quick the ball got out of his hand
5:47
when he stepped on the base, that's why
5:49
he was out by just a hair. And then the
5:51
stretch by Hunter, I mean, yeah, that's
5:53
working on his body like you talked
5:55
about a lot, right? Yeah. I mean, you
5:56
know, we know there's replay now. So in
5:58
the olden days, you know, you would work
6:00
on maybe coming off a tad early. Uh, so
6:03
I was hoping like he timed that thing up
6:05
perfect and then I saw the replay up
6:07
there and I felt like he was on it. Um,
6:10
but again, you know, he knows that's
6:12
going to be bang bang. He did a really
6:13
good job right there. The the positive
6:15
was the big offense at the bottom of the
6:16
order, but the other side of it is one
6:19
hit from the top six guys. That's that's
6:21
got to be positive when you win. Yeah,
6:23
cuz those guys are going to get going.
6:25
And Bass uh Bass has been on the ball
6:27
really well. Um, the last 10 games he's
6:31
hitting almost at a 400 clip. He's
6:32
driving the ball. Every time he hits the
6:35
ball, he's got a chance to leave the
6:36
yard. Um, and Keley and Luke, they're
6:39
really good hitters. Uh, so that's how
6:41
I'm, you know, it's how I'm nature, too.
6:44
But that's how I'm looking at it and I'm
6:45
like, I know how good they are. And
6:48
sometimes you do. You know, I tell I
6:49
tell the guys all the time, don't chase
6:51
hits, but we, I played. Sometimes it
6:53
feels good maybe to get saw off and get
6:55
a hit. So, I think they're a hit away or
6:57
or it's just a matter where they they
6:59
get going. Talking about Kane, I mean,
7:01
have you ever seen a guy get hit three
7:02
times? Maybe Kyle Datress back in the
7:05
day. He was like a man in a refunk. Like
7:07
he I mean, but that kid's so tough. He
7:09
plays so hard. Um he wants to win so
7:13
badly. Like if you go in there, he will
7:16
get hit. He doesn't care where it hits
7:18
him. So I remind him like if it's at
7:19
your kneecap, you know, get out of the
7:20
way. Uh but that's who he is. You own
7:24
base machine. And that's what I told
7:27
guys. Kepler's help us win games and he
7:29
hadn't. He's like over for his last 20
7:30
or something, but he's still on base
7:32
with a pretty high on base percentage.
7:34
You'll imagine when he starts hitting a
7:35
couple doubles and singles. I mean, him
7:37
getting hit and then his base running at
7:39
second. How important is it to have that
7:41
grit at the top of the lineup? I mean,
7:43
I'm not moving Kane Keley because he's
7:45
going to get on base and imagine how
7:46
much he's going to get on base when he
7:48
starts getting those hits. And, you
7:50
know, now with Perry and we've got some
7:51
other guys um you know, Sawyer's going
7:53
to be out unfortunately for a little
7:55
while. He's got a hand issue. We don't
7:56
know how long it's going to be. I'll let
7:58
y'all know when I know for sure. It
8:00
might be a handmake, but we're waiting
8:02
to see for sure what stings for him. Um,
8:05
but that's why you have depth and that's
8:06
why you have talented players on the
8:07
bench. And then you, you know, bases
8:09
loaded, nobody out in the ninth. And
8:11
you're calling upon a true freshman. I
8:12
know that he's pushed a lot for you. You
8:14
trust him, but boy, for that guy to just
8:15
deliver in that situation. Yeah. Back to
8:17
back. Um, you know, Lynch was
8:19
unbelievable in the eighth. Uh, and but
8:22
but you know, he he was at ECU, but
8:24
North Carolina, Duke, you strike out the
8:26
first guy and all of a sudden, you know,
8:28
you learn from that. But I felt like
8:31
Walker, he's got some of the best
8:33
command on our staff and he's got that
8:35
slider. He can throw at any time. So,
8:37
not only can he strike you out, he's he
8:38
can get ground balls. And I just felt
8:40
like we've got to get this first guy
8:42
out. We strike him out great. Um, but I
8:45
felt good about Walker being in that
8:47
situation. I almost went to him. If it
8:50
would have gone two 0, I was going to go
8:51
to him with first and second, and I'm
8:53
probably should have considered it 2-1,
8:56
but he bailed me out on that for sure.
8:58
Lynch two seems to have a really good
8:59
ability to get those ground ball hits.
9:01
How important with them being freshman
9:03
and just their command is having that?
9:06
Yeah, I mean I mean their command shows
9:07
in their numbers. So when you go up
9:09
there, unless all of a sudden it's just
9:10
all over the place, you got to be ready
9:13
to hit. Um you look at their walks of
9:15
strikeouts, it's really good. But the
9:16
thing about them too, not only do they
9:18
have good walks and strikeout, their
9:20
stuff is nasty. I mean, you grade their
9:21
stuff. It's not like they're in there
9:22
throwing 86, 88. I mean, Lynch was
9:25
throwing cheese and I thought Duffy had
9:26
a good zip on his fast ball and that's
9:29
where that stuff adds up. OS stepping up
9:31
against Gardenner Webb, Olan Johnson,
9:33
Crave, so we didn't have to pitch them
9:35
in that game. That's why they were
9:36
fresh.
9:38
Going back to that play in the eighth,
9:40
obviously it ends up being the run, the
9:42
difference in the game. How gratifying
9:44
is that for you as a as a baseball coach
9:46
to to win a game on a little thing like
9:48
that? A baseball play that that was
9:50
executed perfectly in that situation. I
9:52
mean, honestly, it's I wouldn't use the
9:53
word gratify. I'm going to be happy if
9:55
we win. I don't care how it how we win.
9:57
Um, as coach Gallow always said, I've
9:59
never seen a bad one, which I am the
10:01
same way. I've never seen a bad one. Uh,
10:03
but it is something that we talk about,
10:05
something that we emphasize the
10:06
importance of of just not taking a pitch
10:09
off in the game is a matter of inches.
10:11
and you decide not to go hard in that
10:14
spot. I can't send you and then Luke
10:17
gets out and the game's tied. So that's
10:19
that's where it's gratifying from that
10:21
standpoint, but it is a standard here.
10:23
So like, you know, that's what our guys
10:24
should do. Um because that's how you
10:27
play the game. Two more.
10:30
Thanks. Good. Thank you. Thank you.
10:34
It's been a while since you one has left
10:36
the park. Just how gratifying did that
10:38
feel today? Yeah, I mean it felt good.
10:40
Um, coolest thing was just I mean in
10:42
that spot obviously um in the inning
10:45
before whatever inning that was guys on
10:47
base only get one across. Um so I mean
10:50
just it felt good but I'm not going to
10:52
read too much into that. Coach has
10:54
talked a lot about just all of the
10:55
mechanical things that you and coach We
10:57
have been working on looking at your
10:58
swings from 2023 kind of matching those
11:00
up. Can you just kind of take me through
11:02
those mechanical changes before today?
11:04
Um yeah I think a lot of it's just
11:06
trying to simplify. I think that a lot
11:07
of times I I try to muscle up, hit balls
11:10
hard, and I don't necessarily need to do
11:12
that. Um, kind of just let the
11:13
athleticism take over is the biggest
11:15
thing. You had a front row seat to
11:18
Alex's play there at the end. Just sort
11:20
of walk us through your vantage point
11:22
there. Yeah, I mean that there couldn't
11:23
have been a more awkward ground ball,
11:25
especially in that spot. Tips off of
11:27
Duffy's glove, kind of puts him in
11:29
between, and then just to make that
11:31
throw on the run was was unreal. Um, we
11:34
knew he was out the whole time.
11:35
Obviously, they got to go to replay
11:36
there, but it was really, really cool
11:39
and just I mean, we kind of expect that
11:40
out of him these days. AC, you you
11:42
played a couple ACC series, but this is
11:44
a rivalry close by. Just was it more
11:47
tense? It felt more tense out there. Um,
11:49
but how'd you feel as a player? I mean,
11:51
I don't know if tense is the word. Like,
11:53
we're we're definitely not feeling
11:54
tense. I mean, you know, coming in that
11:56
there's, you know, a little bit more on
11:58
the line maybe. Um, but we're going
12:00
about things the same way we always do.
12:02
And um it always feels good to beat
12:04
those guys. But you guys at the bottom
12:07
of the order there one hit in the first
12:08
six guys in the order, but you guys at
12:11
the end of the order brought the the big
12:14
hits all game. Can you talk about that?
12:16
Yeah, I mean I think that that's
12:18
something that our lineup can do. Um we
12:20
can hit one through nine, get on base
12:21
one through nine. Um and the our one
12:24
through four for five guys have have won
12:27
us games. Um and we can't you can't
12:29
expect them to go out and do that every
12:31
single day. So bottom of the lineup has
12:33
to be productive and and we work there.
12:36
Looking back a little bit um just
12:39
heading into the season kind of the
12:40
limbo that you were in with the
12:42
eligibility thing. Did that weigh on you
12:44
in the offseason and like how much of a
12:46
relief was it to now be here in this
12:48
spot? Yeah, I mean it was a definite
12:49
relief. I tried to not let it weigh on
12:51
me. Um I don't you'd have to ask some
12:54
other guys if they felt like it did or
12:55
not. I mean I I did my best to not let
12:57
it. uh pretty much treated it as if I
12:59
was going to be here either way and then
13:01
if not deal with it. Um and then
13:03
obviously ended up working out and no
13:05
place I would rather be. The five hit by
13:08
pitches. I mean the last run for you
13:09
guys just coming on base running it
13:10
seemed like this game built felt really
13:13
gritty. How does that kind of level of
13:14
grit play into your team? I think I
13:17
think that Yeah, I think you're exactly
13:18
right. We've been talking about that a
13:20
lot lately. Um I think early we would we
13:23
would go down and maybe tighten up a
13:24
little bit and something that we've been
13:25
talking about is just being tougher. Um
13:28
and kept getting hit three times. Not
13:30
surprised by that. He's been doing that
13:31
all year. Um but I mean it takes that
13:34
sort of thing to get those kinds of wins
13:36
and got to keep that sort of thing
13:37
rolling. What is as a captain kind of
13:39
what is your role when you guys have
13:41
those conversations about toughness and
13:42
being able to come back when you're
13:44
down? Yeah, I think that it's like for
13:47
we have so many guys that are coming in
13:49
new to the program. And I think that
13:51
it's just kind of an expectation here
13:53
that you go down, it's kind of it
13:55
doesn't even need to be said that, you
13:56
know, whatever, we're going to get right
13:58
back in this thing. And there were times
14:00
when it didn't necessarily feel that
14:01
way. So that's what was addressed. Um,
14:03
and obviously it doesn't take much
14:05
adjustment. You know, they we just say,
14:07
"Okay, here we go." And I think that the
14:10
last two or
14:12
three conference series, we've been
14:14
seeing more of that. Um, so hopefully
14:17
hopefully we can just keep being that
14:18
way and keep winning games. I mean,
14:20
today with Forbes and the fist bump,
14:22
Ryan getting really fired up. You guys
14:23
have gotten fired up all year long, but
14:25
it seems like in the last few weeks that
14:26
passion has kind of started to come out
14:28
in a more physical form. Have you seen
14:30
that as well? Yeah, I think so. I think
14:32
there's also been more to more to get
14:34
excited about. Um, but I mean, yeah, we
14:37
we want we want to see that sort of
14:38
thing. Got to get excited for when
14:40
things are going right. With Lynch and
14:42
McDuff, it's easy to see the stuff
14:44
plays, but how early did you see the the
14:46
compose also match that? I pretty much
14:49
immediately those guys as 18 year olds
14:51
it's pretty pretty unbelievable um to
14:53
come in into that spot. They've been
14:55
doing it all year. So I mean we're kind
14:57
of used to it at this point but it
14:58
really is it's pretty special. Um and
15:01
the stuff like you said is is ridiculous
15:04
but those guys go in and compete every
15:05
time they're out there. Coach talked
15:07
about the play that Perry made in the
15:09
eighth and that being the standard going
15:11
hard all the time. Y'all talking about
15:12
that. wondering just what those
15:13
conversations are like and y'all were
15:16
really pumped after that particular
15:17
play, too. Just curious about that play.
15:20
Yeah, I mean, I think you said it. It's
15:21
that's that's the standard. That's what
15:23
we're what we're expected to do. We talk
15:25
about it all the time. And it's not
15:27
often you see a play like that kind of
15:28
work out that way. Um, and it ended up
15:30
winning us the game and that's that's
15:32
why we do it.
15:35
Thanks, Jack.
15:38
Go through that last play. Yeah. Um, I
15:40
mean, kind of like Vandy was saying,
15:42
tipped off of uh Duffy's glove a little
15:44
bit and then, you know, I saw it coming
15:45
to me, you know, that I had to try and
15:47
give my best effort to make play and,
15:49
you know, luckily I was able to get to
15:50
the bag quick and just sling it over
15:52
first. Still, he made a good stretch.
15:54
Yeah. I mean, just talk about slinging
15:55
it to him at first. It seems like coach
15:57
has talked a lot about how he's worked
15:58
on his body. He's in his best shape.
16:00
Just having that ability at first. How
16:02
important is that to you guys? Oh, it's
16:03
huge. I mean, throwing everything over
16:05
there, they kind of just feel like he's
16:06
going to catch everything. You know,
16:07
whether it's a pick, long hop, short
16:09
hop, you know, obviously that throw that
16:10
I had earlier in the game, threw a
16:12
little bit high, didn't really have a
16:13
good grip on the ball, but you know,
16:15
he's just he's been so good over there.
16:17
And, you know, that whatever you throw
16:18
at him, he's he's going to have a
16:19
chance. So, it's huge for us. I asked
16:22
Jackson about this, but how do you think
16:23
really I mean, from your perspective,
16:25
just the level of grit that was shown
16:27
today just plays into your team,
16:28
identity? Yeah, I mean like they were
16:30
saying, you know, we we thought we
16:31
needed to be a little bit more a little
16:33
bit tougher and I think that showed
16:35
obviously tonight. Um, you know, another
16:37
thing that was we were talking about our
16:39
energy levels and we thought they were
16:40
kind of low in the the past couple of
16:41
weeks. So, we tried to ramp it up a
16:43
little bit more and I think that's just
16:45
something that kind of really helped us
16:46
in just, you know, competing in the box.
16:49
Saw those moments ago you're kind of
16:50
sitting down with your head down. I
16:51
don't know if you're just listening to
16:52
the press conference or kind of
16:53
collecting your thoughts after a game
16:54
like that. But when you're going home
16:55
tonight or the situation at the end
16:57
where you make that play, what's going
16:58
through your head? How are you going to
17:00
think about this um kind of down the
17:02
road a little bit? Yeah, I mean, you
17:03
know, it's just another game at the end
17:04
of the day. Obviously, you know, the
17:05
win's the biggest thing for us. Um you
17:07
know, we play tomorrow, which is the
17:09
great thing. So, I'll just go home, get
17:10
my sleep, and then tomorrow's a new day.
17:12
So, is there is that one of your
17:14
favorite plays that you made in a
17:15
Carolina? Yeah, definitely. Um from a
17:19
from a personal standpoint, I think so.
17:20
I mean, obviously last year, you know,
17:22
in the uh the game against LSU, that was
17:25
definitely up there to go to supers, but
17:27
that's that's definitely one of them. On
17:28
a play like that, like what's going
17:31
through your mind? Like, does this does
17:32
the game slow down at all? Are you
17:34
thinking more? Are you just reacting?
17:35
Like, can you take us through kind of
17:38
that moment? I think it's more of a a
17:40
reaction. Um I was talking to Gav kind
17:42
of right before when they took Lynch out
17:44
of the game and you know, I was just
17:46
like, you know, obviously it's not
17:48
really fun. it it we make it more fun.
17:50
You know, of course, we h we have to
17:52
make it more fun. So, I think that was
17:53
something that, you know, we're kind of
17:55
just in the moment and not really
17:57
worrying about anything, you know, kind
17:58
of just deep breath and whatever happens
18:00
happens and you I mean, in that
18:02
situation, I definitely want want the
18:03
ball coming to me. So, but you're just
18:05
trusting like the the thousands of
18:07
ground balls you've you've taken, all
18:09
the throws, and just reacting in that
18:10
moment. Yeah, definitely. It's just all
18:12
all reaction, just trusting yourself.
18:14
How big of playing second base last year
18:16
helps with a play like that? What' you
18:18
say? How big will you from playing
18:21
second base last year? Helps with a play
18:22
like that. Oh yeah, definitely. And
18:24
positioning wise, uh, Coach Beers put me
18:26
over on that side for uh, I think it was
18:28
Gracia. So, he's a a big pull hitter
18:30
and, you know, obviously last year
18:32
playing on that side, you kind of know
18:33
the bounces a little bit more and and
18:35
where you have to stand in order to make
18:37
a play. So, I think that definitely
18:38
helped for sure. I mean, Duke had the
18:40
bases loaded that inning and I mean, it
18:42
seems like in the last few weeks,
18:43
Jackson talked about it, you guys have
18:44
really worked on your fight when you're
18:46
down. How did that display just in a
18:48
simple? Yeah, I mean obviously just
18:50
trusting our pitchers to make pitches.
18:52
You know, they've been really good all
18:53
year. Um, we know they're they're going
18:55
to strike guys out. They're going to get
18:57
ground ground balls. So, I think it's
18:58
just trusting in each other and just
19:00
trusting in the work that we put in that
19:01
good things are going to happen. Lynch
19:02
and McDuffy don't just have the ability
19:04
to strike guys out, but they get a lot
19:06
of ground balls. How important is that,
19:08
I mean, for you guys and just for them?
19:11
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely huge for
19:12
us, especially as infielders. you know,
19:14
we're you kind of got to lock in a
19:15
little bit more. I mean, obviously, you
19:17
know, you're locked in the whole game,
19:18
but especially with them with them two
19:20
on the mound, you're really locked in
19:21
and you're expecting the ball hit to you
19:23
every time, which is which is huge.
19:25
Vandy, you know, getting really eligible
19:27
and going back as an older guy, the two
19:29
of you, you know, at those key
19:30
positions, having the experience that
19:32
you have, first of all, how much fun is
19:33
it, you know, to play next to that guy?
19:35
Yeah, it's awesome. He's just such a
19:37
great guy and a great leader and um you
19:40
know he's just been you know coming in
19:41
last year he was he was awesome for me
19:43
and helped me you know kind of find my
19:45
way here but I mean he's just an
19:47
unbelievable dude and to see him the way
19:49
he played today was was unreal. I know
19:51
you guys talked about picking each other
19:52
up and just the love that this team has.
19:54
So how are you feeling when you saw him
19:56
hit that homer today? Oh it was it was
19:57
awesome. I don't know if you guys saw me
19:59
but I was I was screaming going down
20:00
third baseline. I was so excited for
20:02
him. It was awesome. How much
20:04
personalitywise do you feel like you
20:05
guys kind of complement each other? Uh I
20:08
I think we're I think we're pretty
20:09
similar um in in that sense, but yeah,
20:12
you know, I feel like he's a little bit
20:13
more calm and I'm a little bit more, you
20:15
know, energetic in in some senses. What
20:18
were y'all talking about in those like
20:20
three, four, five minutes after you make
20:23
the play and they go to review? Because
20:25
that was a longer review and Jackson
20:27
said you had a feeling or you guys knew
20:29
he was out, but just curious what that
20:30
was. It's actually funny you say that.
20:32
So every time they go to review and
20:33
we're on the field, we always ask
20:34
Stokeley, you know, is he out or safe?
20:37
And Stokeley always has an answer for
20:38
you. Of course, this time he's like, I
20:40
don't know. So we're all like, uh, so
20:42
we're kind of just standing there and
20:44
we're like, Gavin's like, I think he's
20:45
out. Vanny said he thinks he's out. So
20:47
we we had a pretty good idea. But with
20:49
Stokeley not saying anything, we were
20:50
like, I don't know how is this going to
20:52
go. What did you think? I I thought he
20:54
was out just based on on how it looked,
20:56
but I still, you know, you still have
20:58
that thought going like, oh, he's safe.
21:00
Does Stokeley ever tell you the wrong
21:01
thing? Oh, yeah. All done. Like, what is
21:04
what is his accuracy right now? Uh,
21:06
that's a good question. Intentional,
21:08
actually. I'd say he's probably like
21:10
50/50. Yeah. Wow. Even if we had one for
21:13
you tonight. Well, you'd rather him say
21:15
that he's out, but but you have no idea.
21:17
Then he's like, "You on the bag?" He's
21:19
like, "I
21:22
think on the bag." Well, he he says he's
21:25
just in in those moments he just doesn't
21:28
want to be wrong necessarily, so he just
21:30
lets it go. He's like, I don't know.