Jeremy Guthrie joins Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins in the latest episode of the 6-1-1 Podcast! 👑
Welcome back to another episode of the 611. It’s your boy Jimmy Rollins. Ryan Howard here with another friend of ours, a friend of the program. He’s a 12year MLB vet. More importantly, in those 12 years, he won a World Series ring. So, we have that in common. He has a cool nickname. You know, you don’t make it in ball until you have a nickname. You know, I’m JRO. Ryan’s the big piece. Our guest today, he’s known by Jay Guts. And if you didn’t know, that’s right, >> that’s Jeremy Guthrie, our man, a cap member. Jay Guts, welcome to the show. We’re glad to have you. We know you have a lot of things going on and we want to dive into that. So, welcome to the 611. Jay, >> I’m honored to be a part of it, y’all. Good to see you guys. Jeremy, for people that know you, this probably not a surprise, but for those who are getting to know you, you do a lot of walking, brother. Like, if if you had to go and track your miles. I mean, we walked what about six, seven miles in Tokyo through freezing cold weather. I have no socks on. I’m getting blisters on the back of my feet, but I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t going to stop the show. But if you had to track all of your walking around this planet Earth, how many miles or kilometers depend on where you are in the metric using would you say you’ve logged? >> I think I’ve walked the Earth literally. I think I’ve walked around the Earth. How many miles is that? I don’t even know how many miles it is due the circumference of planet Earth. But you know where it started from, JRoll? >> I don’t think I’m like any other kid. I didn’t want to walk when I was growing up. I want to get on my BMX bicycle and hit some major curbs and roll through some big jumps along the side of the road. But at 19 years old, I went to Spain and I was a missionary for my church for two years. >> No bike, no car for the large majority of those two years. And every day we were expected to go and find and meet new people. And the only way to find and meet new people was to walk and find them. And so I averaged, no joke, 10 hours of walking per day for nearly two years in the country of Spain. And when you walk with beautiful scenery and you get to hear the sights and the sounds and the smells of a foreign country and especially Spain, which is like one of the best places on earth, you just learn to appreciate walking. And so it’s ever since then, like if I’m going somewhere and I got to walk, I got no problem walking 3 hours, 1 hour, 5 miles, 10 miles, one mile, whatever it is, I want to get in. I want to soak up everything that’s happening. And so, especially in big cities, I’m never taking a cab. I’m never taking a train. I’m not taking a bus very often unless I got to get some real quick. I’m just walking and I’m just enjoying it. So, anyways, get your walking shoes next time we go somewhere together as you now know. >> Well, I heard I heard you got to watch out too with the with the biking with guts, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Get on them bikes. >> The siren started going off when he heard bikes. We know Dexter Fowler’s been in your my boy Dex in Colorado. He’s got some opinions about my bike riding skills. And I told him next one. He’s not the only one. I I heard uh Shane Victorino complain. You know, we we going to jump into that a little bit because we can look up and Google a lot of this stuff. I want to get off the record. Can you tell us about this bike trip that the fellas took in Mexico City about a year ago? Two years ago it was. >> Yes. >> Well, okay. Listen, you understand. If I want to go see, smell, and experience a city on foot, imagine being able to do that at going about 10 to 20 times faster. That means you get 10 or 20 times more of the experience. And so I want to be on a bike as well. I love riding bicycles. That started when I was a kid. My mom said, “If you want to go somewhere, you get on your bike and go there.” And so just like you all probably, like if I want to go to the baseball card shop, if I want to go to the the sneaker shop downtown in my little town in Oregon, we got on a bike and we rode. And so that’s how we got there. So I’ve always enjoyed being on a bicycle. Um I didn’t get a car. This is a fun one. I didn’t get a second car. So we were a onecar family. And I got made fun of all the time for this. We were a onecar family until 2011. My wife and I got married in 2001 and we rolled with one vehicle until 2011. So, uh, my vehicle was a bicycle. It was a bicycle growing up in college, even married. I used to ride my bike in the mornings at like 20° weather to go play basketball at 5:00 a.m. in the morning. I love riding bikes. So, I told the boys, I said, “Let’s go check out Mexico City. Let’s go really explore this city.” And the only way to do that, I was on bikes. So, I think we grabbed maybe been six or seven guys right now up front. The best bike rider in the big leagues, past or present, to my knowledge, Adam Jones. That man can ride a bike. That man is That man’s international now, right? Living in Barcelona. >> Him and his wife Audi, they show up to dinner like, “Hey, let’s go to dinner. Nice dinner, great venue.” They show up looking dressed to the nines on bikes, you know, riding from their their apartment to the restaurant. And that’s how you roll in in Europe, right? And so they’ve kind of gathered. So Adam Jones, that man is a is a beast on the bike. Shane Victorino soft. Dexter Fowler even softer. I mean, these guys, if a car looks like it’s coming at them, if the lights’s like semi- red, semi-green, they don’t know what to do. What do I do? Do I keep going? Do I stop? If a car pulls up next to him, they started getting all nervous and like tipping into the into the car, which is I think what happened to Dex. I think a car was kind of next to him and they kind of leaned into it. I got hit by a car. I got hit by a car. >> We just want to know because that’s that’s all I’m saying that you were out there on a mission to get people hurt or injured. >> No, no, no. That’s that’s that’s that’s the way the story came back to us. >> If you follow the leader and you trust your stuff, this is life. This is the big leagues and this is bike riding. You got to trust your stuff. You got to keep your balance and go straight. You start getting deviated and start looking at all the nonsense and the noise from the from the left and the right that chatter. Yeah. You’re going to fall. You’re going to fall. And that’s what Dex did. A car rode up on him. Oh, the car’s too close. It’s touching me. It just it it’s soft. It’s soft. So, if you got people complaining, I respect them, but they’re soft and and I want to give Dex an additional invitation to come back. Well, maybe we’ll be in Mexico City again this year. Mexico City Series in April. Just announced it. So, uh, who knows? But, you kidding me? Riding a bike in Mexico City is topnotch. Europe is the best. Japan was incredible. I get on a bike anywhere I can. I got a travel bike. I take it anywhere wherever I want to go. >> That’s what’s up. Hey, it sounds to me like you got to sign a you gonna have to start passing out waiverss for people to come ride with you, man. >> Yeah, probably. Probably. That’s what it looks like. My daughter, this is a true Hey, listen to this though. My daughter, we were in Ireland. Okay, now this is if if I take if I take the CAP members or some buddies and we’re riding a bike in England, Ireland over there on that side of the pond. I get you then. Okay. When you want to look left, you should be looking right. My daughter, 21 years old, we were out there on a trip in in uh the British Isles. She got clipped by a car almost as well because she looked the wrong way and I saw her said, “Well, you got to look right. Got to look right.” And she took like two pedals into the street. Almost got clipped. So, I’ll give you I’ll give you a pass if you’re in a foreign country, but >> anybody that drives on the right side, you should be good. >> Yeah. You drive on the right side, then I give you a pass. But besides that, you got to figure it out. >> So, you’ve always been outdoorsy. Have you been like a camper and stuff like that? >> No, I I you know, I’m an Eagle Scout. I got my Eagle Scout when I was in high school. That was a prerequisite to getting a vehicle in my family. So, my two older brothers set the example. They got their Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America. And you are forced to sleep outside, but I hate dirt. Uh, I hate I don’t hate being cold, but I hate waking up cold and I hate dew. And I hate like having to deal with like the dirty dew, the the dust that gets wet at night and now my shoes are dirty and I’m I’m like when you the the dirt’s wet on top, but it’s dry underneath and you step on it, like puffs everywhere. >> I hate that. So, for for the dirtiness factor alone, I don’t love camping, but I was forced to do it for quite a few nights to be able to to be a boy scout. So, I like I’m more of a city boy. I like outdoor in a city, which is kind of backwards. Most people want to be in a mountain in a nice, beautiful lake. I prefer to walk I prefer walking through Tokyo than climbing a mountain or taking a nice beautiful scenic walk. Although I will do both. I prefer the city. >> No doubt. No. >> Like that concrete forest in that concrete jungle. That’s what dreams are made of, you know. >> Sure. >> All right, let’s let’s dive into this, Jay. We want to go back into your career. We we’re going to talk about the heartbreak >> before the big dance. So, 2014 World Series game seven. You get to start. And this game has been talked about uh or was talked about for a long time. Obviously, we know what Madison Bumgardner came in and did. And the Giants were on that run that every other year 12 or 10 124. and this was the last of their three. What was going through your mind and when did you know that you were tabbed to get the big game? >> Like in any scenario, right, the backstory probably provides more context than the actual moment, but I was told uh after I pitched game three in San Francisco, the series was tied 1-1 after we split in Kansas City, and I was pitching game three, which was a change. Um, sorry, no, it wasn’t a I also pitched game three in the ALCS against Baltimore. But when I looked at the mathematics of it all, I said, “Okay, game three.” And I talked to my skip. I said, “I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but you know, when do you want me to be prepared to pitch again?” And he told me before game three, he said, “You’ll pitch game seven as well if it goes that far.” And so, um, I knew I had a obviously a big task ahead of me. But game three went really well. The bullpin picked us up. We were able to win that game 3-2, uh, after, I think, four scoreless innings by our bullpen. I went five innings, gave up the two runs and and left with a lead. And so going into game seven, you know, you’re you’re prepared for it. We fell down. We fell behind 3-2 and it was a big win at home in game six. Kind of a blowout win. So right from the second, third inning, we knew we were going to be playing the next night, barring some unforeseen uh, you know, hiccup in our own in our own defense and and pitching. And and I tried to treat every game the same. And that’s really my mo. Uh, I remember I had a teammate going into the playoffs. I had never pitched in the postseason. Uh, this was my my 12, sorry, my 10th year in the major leagues and I had never had a postseason outing of any sort. And he told me, you know what, hey, you’re going to be so pumped up. You’re going to be so have so much adrenaline. You’re going to throw like 5 miles an hour harder than you normally throw. And and I think I could relate to that. I’d been in big games, right? And there were certain games, certain opponents where you would, whether it was adrenaline, whether you tried hard or whatever it might have been, there would be a little bit extra. But my season in 2014 had been one in which there was a great stretch, a tougher stretch, another good stretch, another bad stretch, and I had to try and stay even killed through that whole season. And really my it was my last, I think, 12 starts in 2014. I went eight and two, had an erra in the lower twos, and I think prior to that run, I might have been a pitcher that would have been left off that roster, but I pitched so well down the stretch that my confidence was high. And I was in this moment and kind of in this zen moment that I knew I didn’t have to do anything more. And so, as my teammate said, you’re going to be throwing a million miles an hour. You’re going to have extra life on it, you know, blah blah blah blah blah. In my mind, I’m like, you know what? I’m not. I’m just going to stay even. I’m going to be exactly what I’ve been for the past month and a half. And if that’s good enough, great. And if it’s not, you know, so be it. let the chips fall where they may. And so game seven, night before, I got a good friend Jeff Miller was in town. We’re hanging out in the dugout. The broadcast, the local local TV network’s like, “Jeremy, it’s game seven tomorrow. You got to get going. You got to get a big, you know, a good night’s rest.” And I said, “Guys, this is what I do every night. Like, you hang out in the clubhouse, you hang out with your boys, you go home, you watch Sports Center, MLB Network for a couple of hours, and you fall asleep at 1 or 2 a.m.” I said, “My routine won’t change. Tomorrow’s just another game.” And so, that was kind of the idea. Uh, what did it what was the preparation? What were the nerves like? I tried to treat it as as any other game that season. I think that gave me a lot of confidence going into that night uh game seven. And I think I went in with, you know, pretty peaceful, confident feeling. >> So, obviously, you know, it not going the way you guys wanted it to go. Uh it made it that much sweeter the very next year being able to get over get over the mountain top. >> Yeah. So 2014, I don’t know where we were picked to finish, but it couldn’t have been, you know, higher than fourth in our division. And not having made the playoffs in 29 seasons, really nobody was looking at the Kansas City Royals as a team to to be concerned about. It was a later kind of late run in the season, we win a miraculous wildcard game against the Oakland A’s, uh, down 73 in the A. One of the best >> one of the best playoff games. >> Crazy. We go through we go through that whole playoff. We get to game seven. Um we lose 3-2 with Alex Gordon stranded on third base against Superman aka Madison Bumgarnner. We walk into that clubhouse and I get asked this all the time, you know, what was the feeling? What was the emotion like? Was it just crushing? And I think that’s a question for every individual player on that squad, all 25 guys, every coach that was on that team. But I remember personally like I walked into that clubhouse having experienced what I had experienced in my then what 12 years of professional baseball 10 in the big leagues. I never thought I would pitch in the playoffs. Uh just that’s where you know this the teams I was on uh my own personal like it just felt like it never would happen. I never felt I would ever pitch in a World Series. And so as I sat there, having been entrusted to pitch game seven, um, having helped our team team win game three, I felt like an overwhelming sense of gratitude. That’s really what I felt. I wasn’t heartbroken, per se. Uh, I I was for our team, but I don’t think I was personally. I don’t think it was like I let this team down. I knew I’d given everything I could. I knew there was nothing more I could do. I knew I had executed two or three pitches, a big one to Pablo Sandival according to the scouting report that I had and it was hit into the in the sha the deep infield shallow shallow outfield and and Omar slipped as he made the throw to first that ended up being the decisive run the last run to score in the 2014 season reached on a base hit an infield single that if it wasn’t wet and slippery he would have it would have been an easy out and so as I got interviewed I’m like I just feel grateful I feel really just an immense amount of gratitude ude that I was given this opportunity to play major league baseball to play 10 years and to pitch a game seven of the World Series. Now that being said, there were some guys that took it a little bit harder and so I think the attitude as you say Rhino um the attitude that off season was we can do it again and the attitude of the public was they can’t. We were picked fourth and I do have the I have the Sports Illustrated that it gave the season preview and it had the Kansas City Royals fourth in the division and we >> now was that motivation was that and not that you need anymore. Did that like spur on >> far as not as far as just you but everyone else like everyone sees that we we we look even if we say we don’t >> we’re aware of what’s being said about us. I think it was it was a topic of conversation. Not to the sense of like we’re going to prove the world wrong, but internally as a team, as an organization, they don’t respect us. They look at what we just did for the past seven and a half months and they think it’s a fluke and we’re going to show you that it’s not. And we brought on some really important pieces in 2015 at the start of the year. Edison Vulkez was a huge addition. Kendry’s Morales a huge addition. and Alex Rios, very very solid players that had a very particular role as to help us become a better team. And so we we came out of the gates and we came out, people say they’ll refer to the 2015 Royals, we came out fighting and and that’s not a uh that’s not a um a metaphor. We came out, I think we had three benches clearing uh challenges in the first month of the season, including one with Albert Pooh, one with Brett Lowry, and one with the entire White Sock squad, all in the month of April. And it was like this attitude of, you know, you’re going to challenge us. And it was small things like maybe they would pitch in to us hard or they would just a little bit of that what we perceived as disrespect or like looking at us like we’re still the younger brother. And we had a bunch of guys said, “No, if you’re going to treat us like that, here it is. Here it is right in the ribs. Take it.” And uh it caused some some highintensity moments, but that’s the attitude the Royals had kind of more internally, not to the world. It wasn’t like >> publicly in the newspaper or in in interviews like, “Hey, they don’t respect us. They don’t believe what we did.” But internally we felt that and so this team was motivated and we were more or less not I wouldn’t say wire to wire first place but we won the first AL Central uh champion division title for the Royals ever because they had never won it since the the league had had it switched the alignment and um you know it was almost uh from start to finish that that 15 team took what happened in 14 in a very positive constructive way and uh and became an even better team the next season >> and I and I can vouch for that cuz I was with the Dodgers in 15 and I remember coming over to play you guys um in spring training and I’m looking around and you know that and I know what it’s like to be and we know what it’s like to have been in a position where it seeming seemingly out of nowhere you became good, you got hot, whatever it is and you get deep. Uh our first year you know we got knocked out in the first round but we won in ’08 but no one was expecting that. It was still all about the Mets. It was still we would just won the World Series, but we still felt like there was a lack of respect. So, we can definitely empathize with that, but personally in 15 coming over to play you guys in spring training and I’m looking around like, yo, these boys are good. Like, I know it seems like they flooked up and got there, but I can tell you personally on that field, I think you guys had Ventur on the mound that day and I’m like, “This dude’s throwing. You got Salvi behind the plate. You got a whole bunch of young guys that understand we are good. And once that belief happens, it’s it’s it’s it’s contagious, not just within the team, but people outside can start seeing it. So being there to witness what you’re saying, I 100% can vouch for because I got to witness it firsthand. And you know, speaking of on Ventura, um um a guy that you got to share the field with. Um what was it like? What what was he like as a person? What did you get to partake upon him? What did you get to learn or or witness him? And although he’s no longer here with us, um what was your take on having him as a teammate? Yeah, we lost Yordano way too soon in the off season uh before 2017 in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic. And when I describe Yordano, the best thing I can say about him that describes him was full of life. Uh he always smiled, always was laughing, was always just uh just this joyous young man. And he really was a young man that was performing at the highest level in the major leagues. But he I I don’t think there were too many players I ever played with that had as much joy in life doing what they really loved, which was playing baseball and specifically pitching than Yordono. And he was a fiery competitor. You put him on the mound, uh that persona of, hey, everything’s great. I’m happy. I’m joyous. Like, you know, let’s buddy buddy. You give him a baseball and it’s go time. And suddenly that attitude uh took a big, you know, 180. and he was all business, very serious, very intense, uh even to a fault at times, but um that’s what I remember about him. A kid that just loved life, appreciated every moment that he was living, and was immensely talented as well. >> Yeah, that was uh >> Yeah, >> a life gone too soon. And R, I don’t know if you got to face him, but I got to step in that box against my screen trainer. I was like, boy, this this is different. This this is seriously different. >> Yeah. I don’t think I got a chance to face him because I remember we played the Royals a couple times early. I think maybe we played him 13, 14, somewhere in there. I know we played early in the in um in my career. So, I don’t think I got the opportunity to face him. So, from what it sounds like, I’m Hey, I should be happy that I didn’t because he was bringing that noise. I remember um correct me if I’m wrong Guts, but Medlin, Chris Medlin and Ryan Matson were on that team too. >> And I remember seeing Mad Dog cuz Mad Dog had just come back from I think they both came back from uh like Tommy John or some kind of surgery pre from the previous year and I remember Mad Dog coming back and I was watching him. Maybe he had that that that that extra adrenaline that you were talking about cuz he was throwing like 98 to 100 >> like hit 100 like three four times. I was like, “Where was that?” >> Right. >> And Medlin, cuz you knew Medlin started in Atlanta. >> Yeah. >> And he was throwing like 92, maybe 93. Medlin’s up to 96, 98. >> Yeah. >> I was like, “Wait, what is going on here, bro?” >> They just just trying to keep up with the Joneses on the mound. >> They >> I tell you what, man. Well, that was before the Joneses right there. But I mean, hey, they were they were going they were going plus plus. But uh but no, bro. I I really enjoyed watching, you know, that that Kansas City team um you know, 14 15 just watching because it it there were a lot of similarities, I think, Jimmy, to what we had as a team in like, you know, our our years that we had our runs and whatnot. But I think that’s the biggest thing is is is when those teams start to come together and it’s that us against the world mentality like you were saying Gus. We’re having bench clearing brawls and you know or clearing benches not having brawls but like clearing benches but it’s like as a team you know who you are. you know what your identity is, you know, and I think it’s when those teams start to really figure out who they are and what their identity is, that’s how they move forward and that’s where success comes from. So, I mean, you know, the same thing the previous year you got there and and and fell a little bit short, but then those guys in the clubhouse that were like, “No, bro. Like, we can we can do this cuz we’ve just proven we’re good enough to be able to do it.” So then to go back the next year and uh write the wrongs that took place to you guys was uh is is is always a good thing to see. But I want to switch it up and kind of talk about >> right right before we do before we do if you don’t if you don’t mind cuz it’s just it’s just coming to me. >> Let’s talk about the 15 World Series because you know there there were a lot of things that happened. You know I’ll see this Escobar. You know I’m always biased to a short stop. He was out there tearing they ass apart games one and two >> and then after was it game three when you guys get to New York? >> Is that is that what it was? Game three you guys get >> was game three. Well I mean I still hear I think it’s Tom Braduchi’s voice in game one >> Matt Harvey the Dark Knights on the mound game one in Kansas City >> and and I hear the broadcast often right and it says you know Alcidz Escobar he is swinging first pitch. He has swung first pitch in almost every playoff game this entire run all through September when they moved him into the leadoff spot. He is swinging first pitch. You cannot throw him anything near the zone and whack. He hits a ball into the left center gap. Little bit of a bobble and all of a sudden you got an inside the park home run to lead off the 2015 World Series. As Tom Braduchi on the air was saying, this man is swinging. Whether or not Harvey didn’t get the memo or just didn’t, you know, thought he could actually just overpower him. And then he did the same thing in game two. I think either a hit or a hard hit ball. And so now we transition to City Field and that was centerard >> and Thor’s like, you know what, like a little bit like the Royals had been earlier in the season, like >> I’ll send a message like this is how they’re going to be. This is how they’re going to roll. And uh you know, our players obviously you see a ball go over the head of your shortstop, everyone’s chirping, you know, not here, not there, whatever they’re thinking. But I think in reality, I’m sitting back, I’m like, I would have done the same thing. Like, and I think our team as a whole would have done the exact same thing. Even though you got to defend your teammate, in reality, it’s like, you know, I can respect that. and Synergard went on to have a really good game, whether it was that pitch or the tone or just the fact that he was, you know, just so good that season. Um, he was able to go on and get that win in game three. And, uh, that was really the only hiccup for for the Royals in the 2015 World Series. And and it and it’s funny because as as Ryan and I, we’re Phillies guys and we remember how it’s been made a big deal in 1980 where I believe it was Dicky Nose came in and flipped George Brett and how that changed the series. Like that was the moment that is like we’re here to fight and the Phillies ended up winning the World Series. So time, you know, I mean what’s this? 35 years later I think it is whatever it was and it happens again. A batter gets flipped. your leadoff guy was coming out and he’s just turning cover off the ball. First pitch of the game, he gets flipped, but this time the Kansas City Royals go on and win the World Series. We know about a parade. Talk to us about the parade in Kansas City. >> People ask a lot of times, what was it like to win the World Series? And and albeit I didn’t pitch in the 2015 World Series. I was not pitching well. I wasn’t on that active roster. So, I was a cheerleader, front row, top step. Um, >> you still put in work. Still put in the work. >> Yeah, put in the work. And maybe that’s part of it. >> Y, >> but if you ask me what I remember most about the World Series, you know, there are moments, of course, Eric Hosmer taking home plate in a crucial game five that that tied the game and and put us into extra innings where we eventually won and a hundred other moments. Alex Gordon, the the game tying home run bottom of the ninth inning, game one, and a number of others. But what do I remember most? It was partying and celebrating with what they said was over a million people all dressed in blue. school was cancelled for the whole city. I’m sure a lot of other cities can relate to that, but we took that parade uh through downtown Kansas City, finished at Union Station and and talked to the fans that that numbered over a million and that is what stands out to me. Like we it’s fun to celebrate with your 25, your 30 brothers and coaches, your families come on the field. Um but that parade was is forever etched into my memory and um I think that could be as big of a motivation as anything. Like I think about the teams that wondering co didn’t get a parade and like ah who cares you got the ring you got the no it matters that parade with your fans to be able to to reflect and celebrate together is uh is very very memorable and um you know some of the probably one of the strongest baseball memories I’ll ever take away is is that parade. >> That’s what’s up. Quick question though on Kansas City Guts. >> What you got? >> Top three bar was coming. Top three barbecue shots, bro. >> Cuz Guts is a foodie, bro. Guts. Guts. Hey, bro. You not you not Hey, if you walking all over the place, >> you eating something. >> You’re getting hungry. >> You’re getting hungry, bro. You got to replenish. So, give me top top three barbecue spots in Casey. What were your spots? >> Are you going to make a lot of people mad, Jay Guts? >> Sure. I’m going to make a ton of people mad. Absolutely. >> Probably. >> Not non-negotiable. It doesn’t even make sense to say any other place. Joe’s of Kansas City, formerly known as Oklahoma Joe’s. Number one. Number one. Best French fries you’ll ever have. >> Hey, that’s fire. >> The burnt ends. The burnt ends. I go to the Zman every time. And this is the reality of of barbecue. If you go get ribs, you go get brisket, you go get pulled pork, it is going to taste more or less the same. And I’ll give you Joseph Kansas City is still going to be a a notch above the rest, but it’s more or less the same. But it’s you got to have that signature item. What is the signature item that separates you from every other barbecue joint? And for me, that’s that’s the Zman sandwich. Uh it’s that’s pork. They also do a burn one with cheese, pickle, and a big huge onion ring. And their French fries. They’re they’re separators. So Oklahoma Joe Kansas City number one. Uh number two, two, three for me are interchangeable. I’ll go Jack Stack and their their separator is their cream corn and their beans. I mean, I’m not even a huge bean guy, but I could have 75 ounces of their their spicy kind of beans they have. >> And we we don’t want to be around you in a clubhouse after that. >> No, no, no. Don’t be around the next day. Bringing that gas, you know, walk that one. >> That’s the one that’s the pregame meal. So, you bring that heat. >> Um, >> their carrot cake at Jack Stack is will knock your socks off. And then Meat Mitch, uh, Meat Mitch is a local couple of guys that used to go. I mean, they all competed in in kind of cookoffs. That’s where a lot of these places started. But Meat Mitch, our boys at Meat Mitch used to bring food into the clubhouse. They didn’t have a restaurant at the time, but they would come and cater uh postgame two or three times a year. Their burn ends. Meat Mitch Wampmp Sauce Sauce is my favorite barbecue sauce. If you want to know which one you got to go to when you go to the store and there’s 800 barbecue sauces, if you like spicy and hot, you’re getting Meat Mitch Wamp sauce. It is second to none. I can put that over everything. And everything in life becomes much better if it’s got some wall. All of it. put all of it on. Meatloaf, chicken, barbecue, don’t matter. I put it on everything. So, those are my top three. They’re non-negotiable. You cannot convince me otherwise. I’ve tried them all and it’s not even close. >> When I used to go up there all the time, so um cuz being from St. Louis, like you know, my son was up there. He lived up in KC. So, I used to go to Gates, bro. Just get Gates. Gates all the time. And then, but Joe’s now I’ I’ve gotten some Joe’s and all that, bro. You can get that. Hey, bro. You can get that shipped to you, bro. >> Yes, you can. And I’ve shipped it plenty of times. Yes, you can. That is a great gift, by the way. You want to send someone a great gift, ship them some Joe’s. Two things I’ve shipped in my life food-wise. Joe’s of Kansas City and and crab cakes from uh from Baltimore. >> Good call. Hey, look. All I’m saying is good. >> You guys know all this information and I’m over here starving. I’m I’m I’m battling attrition right now. My ribs are showing. >> We got you. >> That’s all I’m saying. I I’ll send the address off the airwaves. Matter of fact, >> send send the address. Send your address. We have we have we have Caps Summit. Y’all ain’t never flew none in. >> I mean, y’all y’all gatekeep. We don’t have to get We might have to do that. We got to get somebody to to, you know, prepare it though. Get it prepared up. >> Fine. That’s That’s easy. That’s easy. Ryan. Ryan. >> Yeah. Doesn’t take I mean, it don’t take much. >> I know. You get down. You get down, Ryan. You can bring a green egg, smoke, and whatever you do. But you know what? That brings that >> I do get down. That’s a question cuz there’s a Isn’t there like a border war over this barbecue thing >> between >> St. Louis and Kansas City? >> Isn’t Isn’t like a >> I mean always, bro. I mean, it’s Yeah, it’s always >> I’m I’m just saying, Ryan, we got it right here. We got St. Louis, we got KC on. I’m just saying I’m listening. I’ll be the arbitrator. Go. >> It’s I mean, look, bro. It’s It’s nothing I mean, look, the the origins of it are pretty much the same. It it really comes down to like a lot of the times like if you’re a sauce person or not a sauce person. >> I’m a sauce guy. Love that sauce. >> Like are you know are you a sweet sweet sauce guy? Are you sweet and spicy? Like I kind of like a mix of sweet and spicy. You know you can do all kind of stuff. You can do the hickory and all that kind of stuff but um like Midwest a lot of the times it’s it’s it’s more sweet sauce than spicy. >> Okay. The question is, since you want to dance around it, who makes the better barbecue, Ryan? >> Who makes the better barbecue? >> St. Louis or Kansas City, bro? >> I’d say there’s probably there’s more there’s better spots in Kansas City. There’s more spots in Kansas City cuz we used to go to a spot that was actually in southeast Missouri cuz my pops used to cook all the time. So, I was always used to eating his barbecue. So, um, but there was a spot called Dexter’s that we used to go to in Southeast Missouri when we used to go down to go visit my sister when she was in school that that one reminded me a lot of Gates >> Barbecue. So, but I would have to say like I’ve had more Kansas City barbecue. So, I would say Kansas City barbecue. >> I I got to be honest. I was not expecting that from you, Ryan. I don’t know if you’ll be >> expecting a layover like that. You asked for real. >> I don’t know if you’ll be allowed to return home after that comment, but I’m not here to start anything. >> Hey, I’mma slide in. I’mma slide in there. Get that. Hey, get that get that Chinese food. Get that St. Paul or get that St. Paul sandwich. >> Get that golden walk. Get that golden walk. >> That’s right. That’s right. Oh, we all since we all over the world right now. >> Guts, this is a great segue, man. Let’s talk a little bit about your international baseball history, bro. I mean, you’ve been all over the place, man. You played in Dominican, you’ve played in Australia. tell us a little bit about your experiences and how the game varies in all those different parts of the world. >> Yeah. Well, just like walking, my international interest stems back to that time when I was a missionary, 19 years old. I had only left the country once uh prior to graduating high school, and that was to go play in a tournament up at uh Skydome in in Toronto. >> And so being in Spain was my first kind of international experience, and I loved it. I loved the culture. I loved living in a different part of the world with different customs and different foods. Although remember the first time I tried to go get a chicken nugget in Spain, I saw something was called a croeta de poo. I’m like, “Oh my gosh, that looks just like a chicken nugget.” And so if you ever had a croquette or a croqueta, you know, it’s not a chicken nugget. It’s more of like a dough in the middle. It’s a deep fried dough. And I remember I bit into that thing and thinking this is going to be the best thing. I’m back in the United States. I got a chicken nugget and it was like it just like melted my mouth and went down my cheek. I’m like, “What is this thing?” Uh, turns out I love Crocatas, but it took me a few months to get over that initial shock. So, because of that, when I came home, any opportunity I had to travel, I was like looking at like, okay, I’d love to go do this. And, you know, baseball has provided me so many vehicles, so many opportunities to go all over the place. And I would volunteer all the time. I remember the first time the players association came into the clubhouse, there was a couple people off to the side. I introduced myself. I asked them what they did and they talked a little bit about some of the um international programs that the the players association had and I said if you ever need a volunteer or someone that’s interested in doing this whether it’s um offseason or whether it’s something that can then fits into the regular season I’m happy to do it. And and they were really kind. They reached out to me and said, “Hey, you expressed interest.” And so uh my first kind of baseball international experience was 06. I told my team, the the Indians at the time, Cleveland Indians, I was kind of on the bubble, out of options, and my AAA bench coach was the manager for the Aguila SAS down in Dominican Republic in Santiago. And I said, I’d love to come pitch for you. Would you want to have me? And he said, “We would love to have you.” So I called our farm director. I said, “I want to go pitch in Dominican this offseason. Can I do that?” And he was like on the other, he was on the other line like, “Wait, wait, you you want to go pitch in Dominican?” I said, “Yeah, absolutely.” Absolutely. And I think most players want to go home, rest. They don’t want to go to another country that they’re less familiar with, maybe less kind of comforts than they’re accustomed to. And I was like dying to go. So, he’s like, “Yeah, heck yeah. Go down there and pitch.” And it was a great experience for me. I pitched uh for just over a month. Went really well. It was a help for me to be able to get claimed by the Baltimore Orioles later that off season when I was designated for assignment. And so, uh it started there and it just grew. All of a sudden, I find myself in Taiwan pitching on an a postseason team in 2011, 2014, just like you both. I think both of you all went to Japan, right? And played in a postseason all-star tour. Is that correct? >> No, I was I was done by him. >> I did it. >> Just Ryan did. So, I did that in 14. And uh when it was all said and done, >> either as an ambassador, a guest coach, uh maybe a guest kind of lecturer, I have been to it’s on my phone. I think it’s 26 countries. I have done something baseball related and it goes as far as far >> east if you will as Nigeria. I’ve been to China. I’ve been to Brazil. I’ve been to Argentina, like you said, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, uh, and a lot of countries in between. And I just got back last week with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. They do something called uh, Legends for Youth Clinics. They do them domestically as well as internationally. I think over 40 cities this year they did them uh, outside the US. and we were down in Panama City. We were there with um Ivan Era who’s the current catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, local Panameanian. And um this year I’ve been to count them 16 countries with three left. A little cruise. This last one’s not baseball related, but my family and I are going to take a cruise the day after um Christmas. So that’ll be 19 countries visited in 2025. And there’s just, you know, what I what I’d say about baseball is surprisingly, and and I’m trying to tell this story a little bit better. Surprisingly, baseball is played in almost every corner of the earth. And it would shock you some of the places. I think people ask me all the time, what’s the most unique place you’ve seen baseball? And I’m sure there’s more unique than this, but I went to Bulgaria, and I didn’t even exactly know where Bulgaria was on the map. I knew it was somewhere in the eastern side of Europe. And I go to Bulgaria, and we’re there with coaches that love baseball. like, man, this love for baseball. Where does this come from? They got young kids there. They got high school age kids there. And then they start telling the story of a couple of gentlemen who had been on an exchange program in Cuba back in the 80s. One of them loved this this young Cuban lady, wanted to spend more time with her. She invites him to a >> Yeah. Started with the lady. >> Invites him to a baseball game. He’s like, I this sport is is fascinating. learns the sport, takes equipment home, shares it with his buddies that he’s on the exchange program with. They go home, they start a club in Sophia, Bulgaria, late 80s, early 90s, whenever it was exactly. It becomes so popular that from that, when schools let out in the summer, all those kids go home to their local, you know, uh, local villages or cities, wherever they lived, and they all started clubs there. 26 of them at the height of baseball in Bulgaria, there was 26 clubs. and that guy, one of the both of them, two that kind of the main ones that brought it back. To this day, on a Sunday afternoon, you can find them playing baseball on the field in Sophia that was converted into a baseball field after them kind of pushing for it for a number of years. And they’ll be playing with kids that are 12 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old, and now them 70 years old. And that’s that’s what that’s what’s so beautiful, right? there there’s just certain things that can join cultures and unite people and and I think baseball just as any as me as as any sport is can really link people. It’s like this unspoken language that can unify you and I think there’s so much more good that can be done in the world through sport and that’s why the Olympics are so valuable. That’s what it’s all about. It brings unique people with differing perspectives, different political views, different experiences and for a moment in time you can be you can be equal. you can be on the same level. You can have this kind of connection that you really can’t find outside of sport. And that’s what baseball is. And so my my hope and my dream and and what I enjoy doing so much is finding and uncovering these stories and just seeing it over and over again that baseball unifies people and we share it with way more people across this globe than the average baseball fan might recognize. Mhm. That that was you answered my I was going to ask how was baseball accepted in different places, but you literally just told us. And with that, Jay, why don’t you bring a cameraman, a crew or something to document all of these things because you’d have so much content material to share with us as a group, to share with MLB, to share with players because we’re always trying to expand the game. and we’ve done a great job. But there are places and corners that, you know, we can probably get to if we knew that they love baseball as much as we do or have a passion for it. >> Well, stay tuned. It’s coming. We uh we’re already working on some stuff now and and you’re going to see a lot more of it. And so, ask and you shall receive and there’s going to be you’re going to be able to see what’s happening, which I know all I have current players come up to me all the time, uh former players of course, that are interested in this. And there’s so many, you know, players past and present that want to give back, that want to make these connections that can inspire young kids. And really what I’ve learned over time is as important are the kids, maybe even more important are the coaches. >> Can you give the coaches resources, direction, support, because they’re the ones that have to kind of keep this train going, right? Like kids might have interest and you might go over there, whether it’s Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, show up and do a clinic for a couple of days and it gives them this big shot in the arm and I want to be like them. But without coaches to kind of help train them and teach them the the basics of baseball, the fundamentals, a lot of times it it just doesn’t continue on. And so, um, that that’s something that you’ll get to see. And and I hope if you’re listening to this, if you see this podcast like and you have an interest, hit me up. Hit me up on Instagram. Say, “Hey, this is something I’d love to do.” And I’m almost building a roster. How can we go and be ambassadors of the game uh throughout the world? Because it takes, you know, it just takes a good plan to make something amazing happen. And so that’s my hope and uh you’ll start to see more of that. >> Well, I will just say, you know, January, no, it was March 2024 in Korea. I said, let me know. I’m I just just just it’s just a gentle reminder, Jay, that’s all I’m saying. It’s a gentle reminder. It was March 2024. I said I know just take I know you’re you’re a man about your business, man about the world. Just throwing it out there. But Jeremy, with you traveling so much and being so many places, is there something to keep you grounded? And this is going to go to our banana boat segment where we talk about rituals or things you do to get your day going. You’re so many places as I’m sitting there, I’m like, do you have a ritual? Seems like you’re not because you get up and you just move. But whether it’s now or during your career, what is something that Jay Guts does every day to get itself going? >> Well, I’m really fortunate. Number one, the moment my eyes open, which today was at 5:00 a.m. cuz I had to take my son uh to his uh to a class this morning. I’m like, when my eyes open, I’m ready to go. Like I’m I’m go. I’m full speed. So, I have that energy about me, that kind of zest for life. But I think things that ground me and always have um since I can really remember is my faith in God, my faith in in um and that spirituality to me. You know, I I’m I’m a jokester. I’m a love fun go hard type of guy. But at the end of it, at the core of who I am, uh is that belief in a god. A belief in something greater than not only myself, but something greater than than what we’re experiencing today. And so I try to bring that into my life to start every day. Some element of of spirituality. It can be prayer. Uh it can be scripture. It can be um doing something for someone good, serving. Uh and so that that’s that’s really the core of what I try to keep there. And that’s it can be challenging when you’re moving too much and going around, but ultimately that’s that’s the core of who I am. You know, when you think about routines, um I like to do exercise. I’m mostly a push-up situp guy and and I’ll put that in into my routine. Um of course I’m on the move. A lot of times it’s with my family. A lot of times it’s without my family. So, uh that’s a part I want to I want to share with them. So, sending photos back to our family chat like trying to share my experiences. I try to do that which kind of keeps me, you know, close to them even though physically I might be far from them. So, those are some of the core things that hopefully keep me on the right path that don’t allow me to deviate too much and kind of get off into this more selfish driven uh pursuits, but keep me, you know, close to what I believe and and and who I want to become. >> No doubt. >> Dope. That’s so dope, bro. So, so dope. Um, man, we can we can keep going for days and days and days. So, as we continue this next journey around the world, let’s talk a little bit about your experience in the World Baseball Classic. We got the World Baseball Classic coming up uh next what February, March. >> By the way, I’m trying to go to Japan. I already told him, you know, let them know. I want my witnesses. I’m putting my not I want to go to Japan. >> Yeah, he’s >> J. You’re welcome back. We can walk all over the country again. You >> for the ambassador program. >> Just throw it out there >> for the ambassador program. So, no, just know like if Jay Guts is out there with you, bro, you better get you some. >> I’m wearing socks this time. I’m wearing socks. >> Break them. >> Don’t Don’t be showing up. Don’t try to be showing up in Japan. >> You guys were like, “Oh, >> we me, Adam, Jed, and uh and uh Jeremy.” But I tell you what, we got to see a lot of Tokyo. We walked we got to go to go see K. That that’s all they wanted to do. They wanted to go see K. >> So, we went by K, purchased nothing. purchased nothing. Then it was about another three kilometers back to the hotel and I’m like, “Well, I’m here. I’m but I’m with it. I’m Jay.” In all truth truth truthfulness, I have an auntie who just passed and that’s all she ever did. She You want to go somewhere? We going to get up and walk. And it’s like, what? And so from a kid, I’ve walked and I’ve rode bikes. And I’m like, “Yo, I’m an explorer in the city. I want to go places, get lost, find myself. That way when I come back, I know exactly where I am. I can take you here. I saw this store here. So I get it. I’m with it. Being a bike rider, I know you say Adam’s the best. I would like to challenge him for the title one day. >> Let’s get on it. Let’s go. >> Just throwing it out there. >> Big League Bike Tours. We just started that business yesterday. >> Hey, >> Big League Bike Tours. We’ll lead them all over the country. >> Big League Bike Tours. >> Ride with your favorite big leager. >> I go. So, I’m Big League Bike Tours. I’m with it. >> Don’t Don’t make me show you the garage with all the bikes. I got Most people got cars. I got seven bikes hanging from my ceiling in the garage right now. I mean, I guess I don’t even need the least one then. >> Right. Right. Bring them all. Just bring them all. >> So, not not to get off track. Back to the WBC, man. We Ryan, you played in WBC, right? >> I did not. So, I’ve played in it. I did not. >> Jeremy has played in it. And then I I’ll ask you, you see that? That’s us right there. 2009 squad. >> Yeah. Champs. >> Dream team. >> Yep. Yep. Although I mean although we technically didn’t win it all, we’re still champs, you know. We we that’s how we look at ourselves. >> We were the champs of the Miami bracket. >> There you go. There you go. We won something. But Jeremy, I I know I felt this way. This is before the games even started. We hear, you know, our anthem played 190 times a year, spring training through the season. Um, we have teammates that, you know, separate from us and they go play for their countries, their their home countries, and they’re still your boy. But I don’t think it was just me. But when you hear the anthem in that situation where you’re representing your country and you’re going up against another country, it sounds different. It seems like it means more. It’s just not the mundane, let’s get through this to play the game. It’s different. Can you explain? I know how I felt. Can you just let us know how maybe you felt or give us some insight what was going through you when that anthem was played in that situation when USA is across your chest? >> I appreciated how USA baseball when we got together right in Florida, they kind of talked to what it talked to us about what it meant to represent the United States. Um, you know, they were very formal like when we do the anthem, let’s have one hand behind our back, one hand over our over our heart. And I think that was just in in commemoration of what it means to be a member of the United States. Uh it’s too easy to forget the history, the lost lives, the fights, and the and the freedoms that we enjoy. Granted, we understand the world has conflict. Our country has its own conflicts. Our communities have their own conflicts. Um, but to even be able to navigate them the way we have throughout the history, I think that was their hope was that they would impart to us the grand magnitude of of what the United States of America represents. And and that’s kind of what ran through our veins. That’s what you’re describing. It became more than just uh a song to commemorate the country in which we live, but it meant something more than that. And I credit really USA baseball and their efforts to to kind of ingrain that into us um as representatives of the United States. Like, hey, you wear the United States on your chest. Now, it’s different. You’re not just someone in the United States playing, but you are now representing us. >> And um and like you said, it just it just hit different uh with with the uniform on and we’ll get a chance to see some Olympics here coming up uh soon enough. and and same thing, athletes representing their countries so much more than just the name on the chest, but but the history that goes into it. >> What are your predictions for 2026 WBC? Is is Japan running it? Have they won consecutive? No. No. No. We won. We won. We threw one in there. But is Japan running it back? We were there in Miami. Ryan and I were there in Miami. We saw the Trout Otani matchup to end it. It was absolutely fire walking down from the sweets during the at bat and just feeling the drama getting getting able to get uh I think we’re on the third base side watching all unfold. USA is stacked. I really like what these boys are doing. But does Japan have a chance to run it back? >> I think number one I think baseball fans, coaches and players should recognize what makes Japan great. In my opinion, what makes them great because they don’t typically bring the the big boppers to the plate. Although this year, of course, they’ll have Show and and he has become, you know, the the the the big bopper of Japan, but >> they don’t they don’t do a lot of things >> uh in a way that like just knocks your socks off. Sure, they have great arms, but they’re just so fundamentally sound. So, I want if you’re watching the World Baseball Classic, you should walk away say, “Okay, Japan has won three of the five World Baseball Classics. uh the first two and now the last. And they have primarily done it by moving getting guys on, moving them over, throwing strikes, making the defensive plays behind their pitchers. And of course, they have the nasty shuto and the splits to get punch outs, but they are just so fundamentally sound and that’s what separates them. That’s why they have been where they have been every single year in the World Baseball Classic. So, that being said, what is my prediction? I think Japan is going to be there and uh we’ll see exactly how it all plays out. A lot more of their pitchers now are big league pitchers and I do think that sways the preparation a little bit. When you have a commitment to the Dodgers or to the Cubs or or wherever their pitchers are going to come from, it’s a little bit different than I think when you have your commitment to the Orics Buffaloos and and Tokyo. And that’s no disrespect for for the for the Japanese baseball league, but I think it is a little bit different. So, we’ll see what that equates to. But I I’m having a hard time looking beyond the Dominican Republic roster. I’m having a hard time looking beyond Juan Stoodto in left field and Julio Rodriguez in center field and Tatis Jr. in right field and Vlatty and Marte and Jose Ramirez and and Yiner Diaz and Junior Commo. I’m having a hard time looking past that that offensive roster which I think mixes in. It’s not just the the the power that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might have or maybe that Tatis has, but it’s you got on base guy with Sodto. He’s going to grind out at bats. You got speed with power with Marte. You got Jose Ramirez who’s just one of the best all-around hitters. >> Yeah. Yes. >> And so they’re going to throw Alcantara out on the mound. They got a few other guys. I I’m going with Dominican Republic. And I’m going with it because I feel like not only do they have mega stars, but when I look at the roster, they have the type of guys that a lineup can be built around. And that’s maybe something that we saw right in 09 and in other years. >> The USA throws together just a massive lineup. And and sure, putting the pieces together can be a little harder, but I just feel like this team can do it. So, if I had a if I was a betting man, which I’m not, I would go I would go Dominican Republic, but I know that Japan’s going to be there. And you definitely can’t look past the USA team, uh, which is is gonna be maybe as stacked as it’s ever been. Um, but I’m going team Dr. That’s my prediction. >> I I’m I’m not even mad at that. On top of that, >> on top of that, >> I’m not mad at that at all. >> Those boys will go over there and go get about 40 to 50 winter league at bats in before that happens. So, let’s let’s not sleep on that. >> On top of that, they get the preparation. That’s a huge advantage. That do not look past that advantage. Yes. I mean, you you can’t you can never count out the the Dr. Bro. >> Every year it their their lineup every year. It’s like the WBC Yankees, bro. You can’t like they are always stacked. >> I remember we had uh in ’09 cuz I didn’t I didn’t play on the WBC team, but I remember we played in spring training, we played an exhibition game against the Dr. And I just remember I was like there are no breaks in this lineup and like Miguel Tahado was playing and like he hit a ball pass me down the first baseline. I’m like hey bro let me get my two abs and take it to to the house bro cuz like this is going to be this is this is not going to be fun. >> This is not going to be fun. So with those guys, you throw any kind of pitching out there with that Dominican team, like you said, Alcantara, like bro, it’s going to be tough to beat them. And I agree with you a thousand%, Guts. Like, Japan just plays very fundamental, fundamentally sound baseball. And you’ve got pitching. To me, it’s always going to be about the pitching. like whoever’s got the best pitching, good pitching will always beat good hitting, especially in that situation. >> So, whoever’s pitching staff is gonna be able to, you know, better is better suited for this situation because everybody’s pretty much going to be, you know, have the crim, they’re going to be pretty much stacked out there. But, I to me it’s going to be the same thing as what it was in the postseason. It’s going to come down to pitching. So like that that that pitching if you can keep show and company at bay, if you can keep, you know, I mean, man, bro, that that Dr. Ticket is going to be a hot one, bro. >> It’s going to be a hot. >> They they could all go 0 for four and I’d be like, “Hey, bro, I’m still glad I came to watch this cuz just to see what the possibilities of what can happen with that.” And don’t Hey, and don’t get it twisted because the celebrations will be on point, >> okay? No, they you know they you know they going to have it’s going to be a party. >> All you want to do is be in that crowd. You just want to be out there when when the Dominican is playing. You just want to be out there. And for the fans that are going to go to the WBC, >> that is a very very valid point. If you’ve ever played winter ball of even if you just heard about winter ball and you want to truly experience it or experience it again, >> Venezuela, Dominican, Puerto Rico, you want to be at those games. Trust me. >> Mexico. >> Mexico. Oh, another one. I mean, you have to be there. when they when they when they played each other. Oh my goodness. We went to that game the last WBC when they played each other. >> Electric. >> It was insane. Electric. >> It was insane. >> And there’s probably going to be a fight or two somewhere in between one of those teams. It’s just it’s just what it is. You know, they they they popping off. >> Yeah. Yeah. You know, >> and then and then they’ll Yeah. And then they’ll make a And I’m really excited. You know, there there’s some there’s some fun stories this year, too. Czech Republic, right, is back after winning a game in the Japan bracket last year. and they’re kind of the I would say Czech Republic’s like the darling right now of of European baseball that they have they’ve done it with homegrown players. You’re not going to see guys on their roster. I think maybe uh Eric Soggard, you’re not they’re not going to have a bunch of guys that have a passport or that play in the United States. They got dudes that are from Czech Republic that are firemen on the weekends doing doing accounting uh in the new year and then showing up for the WBC. That’s a great story. I hope they win a game, maybe even two, maybe they advance this year. Uh, Great Britain after a win last year in the mex in the in the Arizona bracket. So, there’s some fun teams >> that are that are around Nicaragua has some some talent, right? These are teams that probably won’t go the distance, but you win one game in the WBC, you automatically qualify for the next. And so, there’s some fun stories that are out there. Um, I’m sure Puerto Rico, we’re going to hear some phone calls from our boys from Puerto Rico and Venezuela and Mexico. They’re leaving them out. >> Brazil. Brazil out there. >> Canada. So, >> you got Brazil out there. >> It’s exciting. It’s exciting. And I’m, you know, you got to really tip your cap to Major League Baseball, to the the players association for, you know, continuing on with this vision of what it could be. I think in ’06 it was very much like, h whatever. You know, a few guys will show up and they got some big names, Jeter and and whatnot, Roger Clemens, but Griffy Jr. and others, but it’s like it’s become the the premier display of world baseball talent. And and it means something. And that’s been clearly evident in the last three years. Dominican, USA, Japan, and those celebrations look just like a celebration in early November for the World Series. >> No doubt about it. No doubt about it. >> So, Gus, we want to we want to finish you off with this and this may be the most fun subject uh that you talk about. I don’t know if you still exist, but you had a house full of shoes. It wasn’t a closet. It was not a closet. Let’s just be honest about that. You had a garage space plus half your master bedroom full of Jay’s. I don’t know if you did anything outside of Jay’s, but for sure Jay’s you were what we call a true sneaker head. You can give the education when they were original, when they were remade. You can look at a shoe and break it down. You looked at my shoes. I remember being career. You looked at mine like you told me all about. I’m like, I don’t know, bro. I just wear them. How did that happen? First of all, how did you become a sneaker head? and what is it about the sneaker head um culture that’s attractive to you? And then I want you to delve into what you’re doing with sneakers. Why am I a sneaker head? Because I grew up in the 80s. And if you grew up in the 80s or the ‘9s or the 2000s, I’m talking to you, Michael Bourne. You better know that the GOAT is Michael Jordan. Inside joke right there if you don’t know what we’re talking about. The ambassador program has a continual fight as to who the greatest of all time is in basketball. And it’s Michael Bourne versus the world. And uh the world is going to win just like MJ always wins. >> But you know, I was 7 years old. I go to my my oldest brother’s junior high basketball game. Plays for Joe Lane Junior High, Roseber, Oregon. Black, red, and white school. And they’re wearing Air Jordan 1’s with the Wings logo on the side. and like, man, this team looks unbelievable. They all have the Air Jordan 1. I begged my mom, I got to have a pair of those. For Christmas, I get a pair of Sky Jordans. So, the original small versions actually said Sky Jordan on the wings. And uh my my love for sneakers was was hatched. Now, Michael Jordan becomes a household name, starts winning MVP, scoring titles, becomes a world champion, and the shoe, the sneaker, not only does it have the style, but now it becomes something even more. It defines greatness. It defines tenacity. It defines flight through air. Literally, you felt like you were going to jump and fly in the air if you wore the shoes. So, >> swore I was flying. >> You asked the question like >> swore I was flying >> all day. >> Oh, yeah. >> And you asked the question, am I all Jordans? Yes. Pretty much that’s all I buy. But I appreciate sneakers because I saw the way one athlete changed the way you looked at a pair of shoes. And and it’s, you know, we’re talking about this, >> what is it, 40 40 years later, and it seems like common knowledge, of course. Oh, yeah. we’ve seen my it makes sense. It didn’t make sense back then. Like no one not too many people were out there buying the Converse weapon because of one of the greatest Larry Bird or the other greatest Magic Johnson were wearing them. Like it just it just didn’t do it. Like it didn’t move the needle even though they were the greatest to be on the court in their era. Um but it did it became something more than that. And so I my love for sneakers grew. It became it defined excellence. It defined hard work. It defined never giving up. It defined greatness in all of its kind of connotations. And so, uh, that’s what the shoe was when the new shoe came out. It’s like, yeah, I want to get the new Air Jordan because it it is everything I want to be as an athlete or as a person. Uh, now you fast forward, you know, you you spend years accumulating shoes, and yes, they’re in every closet. People ask, “Where do you keep your shoes?” I said, “If there’s a door in my house, I can take you through right now. Uh, if there’s a door in my house, if you open the door number one, door number two, 3, 4 through 20, there are going to be shoes there.” because they don’t build houses big enough to keep all the shoes that that I had, right? And so, um, they’re still there. They’re floating around. Some of them you got to, you know, shoes don’t last forever. They start to fall apart. So, at some point, it makes more sense to to find a new home for them. >> But, uh, that was kind of the passion. That’s it’s kind of in many ways it’s how I was known. I’ll tell you a story. Go to 2000, like I said earlier, go to Japan in 2014, postseason tour. We got some big names, right? We got Yasel Pig, who was a monster at that time. Yep. >> Robinson Cano, Salvi was with us and a number of other really good players. And as they walk off the bus, oh, you know, they they look and they’re like, “Oh my gosh, that’s Robinson Canó.” You know, Yankee second baseman. You’re so amazing. They want an autograph and a picture. And I heard them just saying this over and over about every player that got off the bus. And I was one of the last ones and they looked at me and they’re like, “Jeremy Guthrie, sneaker head, sneaker collector.” They knew me as a sneaker guy in Japan and and not as a not as you know clearly they knew I played baseball but like Jeremy oh sneaker vault and and referring to the vault that I had in my previous home in Utah. I was in Paris one time with my wife. We’re going through security and this guy I don’t know maybe 25 35 somewhere in that range like a young younger type guy. He’s like dude you’re Jeremy Guthrie from uh from YouTube with that big old sneaker collection in that vault >> from YouTube. A random guy a French guy. Yeah, French dude. >> When you know from YouTube, just know just know you’re famous. >> That’s it. So, anyways, Jro, the point is is I don’t have that talent, that pizzazz that that a guy like yourself can have and ends up getting that Jordan contract. So, now I’m playing baseball and I want to have the drip. I want to have that Jordan drip on field. >> Was that a shot? Was that Was that a Was that a Did you pull back the bow and release it? Let’s just Hey. >> So So I got I don’t have that >> thing. Hit me and just, you know, I’m just I’m just throwing it out there. >> Where where were my Jordan 12s with JRoll on the heel tab lined up nice red and gray colorway? Right. So I went to a company. I told my agent, I want to pitch in some black and orange Jordans. Cuz I was on the Orioles at the time. I said, “Find me a company that can make cleats out of Jordans.” Couple weeks later, black and orange Jordans show up. I pitch a great game at home in them. Custom cleats is the name of the brand. I do a bunch of more pairs, some foam pits, some cool shoes just to kind of shake up the the sneaker world. Like, you know, in the old in those days, it’s hard to remember, but you couldn’t really wear shoes that were very different and they had to have 50% or more of your team’s main color, designated color, blah blah blah, right? A bunch of rules. >> Tragedy. We we we played at the wrong time. Tragedy, >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah, >> we did. >> So, anyway, so I wear different shoes, put cleats on the bottom of them. Like, for example, right, I even have a pair right here. Like imagine if you wanted just rocking a pair of Jason Tatum shoes and you threw some pink cleat plates on the bottom like that for Mother’s Day. Like this goes hard. This is nice. I would like that. But we but we couldn’t do that. So I wanted to do that. I found the company Custom Cleats. I converted shoes over time. Um the the original owner reaches out to me, hey, would you want to invest in my company? So I bought 25% signed the papers before game four of the 2015 World Series down the left field line at Cityfield. Bought myself 25% of a company. first time I ever became kind of a invested in a company like that. >> And then just in 2022, uh me and my partner from from college, my good friend, my best friend, we bought the rest of the company outright. So now we run custom cleats. We’re not entrepreneurs. We’re just a couple of dudes that love baseball, love sneakers, and um trying to let all the players in the world um be able to wear whatever they want, whatever looks the best, feels the best. There’s two reason people say, “Why do people convert?” because they either want to look dope or they want to be super comfortable or usually want to do both at the same time. And that’s what that’s what we try to bring to the table. We want to say if you got a shoe you love the way that it feels, it helps you stay healthy. Planner fasciitis. People come to us all the time with different medical conditions. They said, “If I could just wear this shoe, everything would be fine.” I said, “Wear that shoe. Let us put some cleats on the bottom of it.” Or they say, “Man, if I could just find that shoe something to match my uniform, it give me so much more like, you know, swag on the field.” And I said, “Send us the shoe. We’ll do it.” And that’s what Custom Cleat does. We’re just bringing you the sneaker you want to be able to play on the field of play that you want and and primarily we do baseball, softball, and golf. Those are kind of our three big deals. But, um, it allows me to still kind of feel the the excitement of sneakers. I’m always looking at what’s releasing now because you want to know what’s, you know, when someone says, “What should I put cleats on the bottom of?” I can throw out a few suggestions. Most player most athletes come to us with what they already want to do, but in the case they don’t know, I say, “Hey, there’s a new cool, you know, the new John’s a great shoe. Go put some cleats on the bottom of that thing.” So, we’re trying to do what you did, Jay. Roll down your career. I mean, just trying to look good out on the field. While you’re going to play good, you might as well look good, too. >> You might as well. Hey, but you know, you got to smell good, too. Play. Don’t stop there. >> Might as well. >> Smell good. So, Jay, where where can we find you? Where can people that want to get custom cleats? Or is it just pros? Is it kids, college, whomever? Where can they find you? >> Maybe the biggest surprise, it’s everybody, man. We got orders coming in right now for Christmas for like four year olds. They’re Do you guys do size 3C conversions? >> Like a shoe like this big. I’m like, “Sure, we’ll rock your little mini Jay’s, right?” Like, “We’ll we’ll make them we’ll make we’ll make those cleats, too.” Um, the all the orders, all the orders take place on customcleat.com. We’re kind of the Kleenex of the industry. If you want to like customize shoes, I want to do some custom cleats. You punch that in, you’re going to find custom cleats. That’s our That’s our company. And so, we’re really fortunate to have that URL to be able to go. You got to make two decisions. What kind of cleat style do I want? Do I want metal? Do I want molded? Do I want golf? You know, whatever you want. You got to decide what you want. And then you got to decide the color, style, color. You go to checkout. Once you do your checkout, you get an an email shipping label. Gets right to your email. Shipping’s included in your price. So, you make your payment, put the shoes in the box, send them go to UPS, and send them to us. That’s it. Where do people hear about us mostly? Instagram. We have 160,000 followers on Instagram. and we post a picture every day of a converted shoe or a player wearing one of our conversions. Um, how many guys wear them in the big leagues? Easily over probably 500 over the past number of years. I can probably point to a hundred that wore them last year. We have players that wear them exclusively that only wear custom cleats, meaning a pair of shoes converted. Like I just know that I performed the best in them. They feel the best. Um, Jesse Chavez, who I think is retiring, maybe he’s played on 850 teams. We leave her right for the Braves. one of the just a just an absolute beast. He told me he’s like, “Jeremy, this extended my career.” He says, “For me, it was a health thing. Like, I had some problems with my feet, problems with my legs, and when I pitched in a pair of conversions, I thought I’m going to try this out.” He said, “I did it a bunch of years ago.” He said, “It has extended my career.” And this is a career that has gone on for 20 years. So, when we’re talking extended, we’re not talking about like, uh, from seven to nine years. We’re talking like 9 to 20. And so, it has a different purpose for everybody. customclelet.com or or customcleat on Instagram. You can DM us and ask any questions. But it’s pretty straightforward once you understand one concept. You buy the shoe and you ship it to us. That’s it. And then you got to choose two things. >> Simple enough. There you go. >> That’s what’s up. >> Jay G, please. >> These might be yours, Ryan Howard. That’s a size 16 golf shoe right there. That might be yours, dog. >> Go ahead. Slide slide them over. I like that free ad. You know, he got a new customer already. >> All right. We’ll send him with the Joe’s of Kansas City. >> That’s it. Well, >> appreciate it, Jay Guts. Um, it’s a pleasure having you on cuz I mean, for those that know you, you’re a very interesting character. You’re a person. You crack jokes. You’re in on everything. You’re knowledgeable about about about a lot, but people don’t get to see your heart. And I got this, you know, spend some time with you in Korea just riding back and forth. >> And I’m like, man, this dude is interesting. like I want to do the things that he does. I follow you. So I see your journey, but now I’m getting to understand and get behind the curtain of your journey and why there’s a purpose and a passion for you. A person that wants to make a change in the world and you’re going about doing that one field, one player, one person through faith, through sports, through spirituality, uh that is you. And you do it, you know, in your time frame. And we all know if you can make a difference in one person’s life, >> you’ve made enough. And for you, I think you’ve done that in way more than one person. And like I said, I asked you a year ago in Korea. So, this is a reminder >> that when you want to do something, let me know cuz I would love to be a part of that journey. I love travel, but I love it for a purpose. And you provide that. >> I appreciate it, J. Roll. Thank you very much. >> I would be remiss if we uh did not ask our resident sneaker head all-time favorite pair. >> That is a great question. >> Help. Give us five cuz one’s probably tough. We we we’ll let you get five. Just run five. >> Number five for me would probably be the Chicago Air Jordan 1. So, the one that I started with that white, black, and red uh classic Air Jordan 1 silhouette. Number four would be the Air Jordan 3 white cement. Uh he wore that in the infamous dunk from the free throw line. Um one of the all-time classic Air Jordans. I love the three. Number three for me would be the the Spike Lee Oscar Air Jordan 3, which is a gold shoe that they made for him when he won his when he won his Oscar award. So, it’s the same silhouette as the previous Jordan, but it’s all gold. And if you haven’t seen his gold, look up Spike Lee Air Jordan 3 Oscars. >> I got to go find those. Number two for me, number two for me all time and I own this pair of shoes would be the Air Jordan 1 Craig Sager and the Craig Sager uh Air Jordan 1. >> You’ve taken all of his his looks over the years, the different patterns on his suits and in commemoration for him before he passed before he lost that battle to cancer. They made a pair for him and his family rumored to be less than 12 pairs in the world and it’s just patchwork. Go look up Craig Sager Air Jordan ones and I have those in a size 12 and a half. ever worn them, but those are are number two for me overall. And number three, or sorry, number one, kind of the other direction, my favorite shoe is actually the Nike Air Yeezy 2 and just a traditional black solar colorway. I love that shoe more than any other shoe. Uh, so not even a Jordan. Kind of a shocker there, but uh, Easy2 Nike um, solar colorway. Although I love Red October if I can give like a 1B, but that’s uh, that’s my favorite shoe. >> That’s what’s up. >> Great question. >> There you have it. You know that we would that that our our audience we we we would have got a lot of texts and emails like what the fra I appreciate you that this teamwork make the dream work baby. You know what I’m saying? I bounced one over there too. You >> Hey, sometimes you know I got to start the double play. You know what I’m saying? >> I just rolled into a 611 double play. >> We we didn’t really want you to start the double play. We like you on the on on the backside catching the final out of the double play because you know Ry, you did a great job. You hit me in the chest most of the time. hitting the chest most of the time. >> I did most of the time. >> I did. I did. I did. >> But uh Jay Guts, we appreciate you coming on, bro. We appreciate you uh spending some time with us, breaking down who you are, letting us in your life. Um we appreciate you being a part of CAP. You are a cherished member. Uh you’re part of the uh the honor to be a part of it >> and and and and the group text that is never ending never ending. and Mike Bourne. It is Mike Bourne against the world. But we got we got we have to respect his opinion. >> We have to respect his opinion. But that’s a conversation for another time. Ry, you know, I appreciate you always being here. Jay Guts 611 podcast. Uh Jay, appreciate you, brother. >> Appreciate you guys. You’re brothers to me. Be well. We’ll talk to you soon.
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