Joey Wiemer and Brady House proved to be the hero in the Washington Nationals’ Opening Day win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field
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Video Transcript
I don’t think we ever actually asked this.
I don’t think we ever actually asked this.
Are you going straight five starters through rotation or could it be different, or could you even use an opener?
Are you going straight five starters through rotation or could it be different, or could you even use an opener?
I would say everything’s on the table.
I would say everything’s on the table.
It’s never easy to tell a guy that he’s not gonna make the opening day roster this year.
It’s never easy to tell a guy that he’s not gonna make the opening day roster this year.
That’s not possible.
That’s not possible.
How do you go about those conversations with those guys where you’re trying to keep them motivated going forward?
How do you go about those conversations with those guys where you’re trying to keep them motivated going forward?
That’s a really good question.
That’s a really good question.
It, it’s, it’s not easy.
It, it’s, it’s not easy.
every single one of those conversations are, are really tough.
every single one of those conversations are, are really tough.
at the end of the day, it’s, it’s, it’s You have to be honest with the player.
at the end of the day, it’s, it’s, it’s You have to be honest with the player.
I think when you tell them something and it, it’s not true, like, they see right through it.
I think when you tell them something and it, it’s not true, like, they see right through it.
I’d much rather err on the side of being honest, even if it might hurt their feelings.
I’d much rather err on the side of being honest, even if it might hurt their feelings.
At least they know where they stand and what they need to do to get to the big leagues.
At least they know where they stand and what they need to do to get to the big leagues.
That’s, that’s the biggest thing.
That’s, that’s the biggest thing.
I wanna make sure that when w- each of those individual meetings when the player leaves, one, they feel like we’re in their corner, we still care for them, and believe in them, and secondly, like, what it is exactly they need to do, whether it’s in triple A or double A, to make sure that they can get called up to the big leagues.
I wanna make sure that when w- each of those individual meetings when the player leaves, one, they feel like we’re in their corner, we still care for them, and believe in them, and secondly, like, what it is exactly they need to do, whether it’s in triple A or double A, to make sure that they can get called up to the big leagues.
so whether it’s, you know, while it’s still not easy, I think it provides some players some clarity on what they need to do, to get here.
so whether it’s, you know, while it’s still not easy, I think it provides some players some clarity on what they need to do, to get here.
You mentioned improvements defensively.
You mentioned improvements defensively.
Was there any players, that improved defensively the most during the spring?
Was there any players, that improved defensively the most during the spring?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, I th- Go down the list.
I mean, I th- Go down the list.
Like, we were just looking at, two days ago, we– A lot of our, our work and focus has been on, like, pre-pitch and first step.
Like, we were just looking at, two days ago, we– A lot of our, our work and focus has been on, like, pre-pitch and first step.
We think first step has a lot to do with whether it’s outfield, infield range, obviously, and getting to balls.
We think first step has a lot to do with whether it’s outfield, infield range, obviously, and getting to balls.
every single one of our players’ range has improved, or their first, their reaction time has improved, from beginning of spring training to today.
every single one of our players’ range has improved, or their first, their reaction time has improved, from beginning of spring training to today.
So that was a nice step in the right direction.
So that was a nice step in the right direction.
and that was everybody.
and that was everybody.
Like, there wasn’t one person who stayed the same or went down, so that was cool to see.
Like, there wasn’t one person who stayed the same or went down, so that was cool to see.
but no, I, I think as a whole, every-everyone’s done a nice job, so there’s not, like, one single person that’s done better than everyone else.
but no, I, I think as a whole, every-everyone’s done a nice job, so there’s not, like, one single person that’s done better than everyone else.
I think as a whole, it’s been really good.
I think as a whole, it’s been really good.
Does that interact, like, anecdotally or date?
Does that interact, like, anecdotally or date?
Is there data on that?
Is there data on that?
Yeah, there’s data on that.
Yeah, there’s data on that.
all stadiums now are, equipped with, like, a tracking system that it tells you everything, like sprint speed, first step, reaction time, route efficiency, all those things.
all stadiums now are, equipped with, like, a tracking system that it tells you everything, like sprint speed, first step, reaction time, route efficiency, all those things.
It’s pretty, it’s pretty cool.
It’s pretty, it’s pretty cool.
so we’re able to pull from that.
so we’re able to pull from that.
Is that improvement more a product of guys being intentional about knowing this is something they should improve upon and something you want them to improve upon, or is it more mechanically based?
Is that improvement more a product of guys being intentional about knowing this is something they should improve upon and something you want them to improve upon, or is it more mechanically based?
it’s a little bit of both, but I’d say the first more than the latter.
it’s a little bit of both, but I’d say the first more than the latter.
a few guys, it was, like, figuring out how they wanted to have their, like, their pre-pitch, setup, but most guys, it’s just like saying, like showing them how much it matters and has a effect on which balls they get to, which outs they convert, all of those different things.
a few guys, it was, like, figuring out how they wanted to have their, like, their pre-pitch, setup, but most guys, it’s just like saying, like showing them how much it matters and has a effect on which balls they get to, which outs they convert, all of those different things.
so a little bit of both.
so a little bit of both.
That helped Junior get to that point with that play yesterday.
That helped Junior get to that point with that play yesterday.
That was a heck of a play, huh?
That was a heck of a play, huh?
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
Yeah, he’s unbelievable.
Yeah, he’s unbelievable.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How much weight does the numbers that you saw from the pitching staff, the strong numbers this spring, carry in terms of determining, you know, where you go from here?
How much weight does the numbers that you saw from the pitching staff, the strong numbers this spring, carry in terms of determining, you know, where you go from here?
So it’s– I would say it’s less about, like, the surface level numbers and more about, like, what their stuff looks like.
So it’s– I would say it’s less about, like, the surface level numbers and more about, like, what their stuff looks like.
it’s, it’s just so hard to make decisions on, or based on, like, stats in spring training.
it’s, it’s just so hard to make decisions on, or based on, like, stats in spring training.
one, because it’s a small sample size.
one, because it’s a small sample size.
Two, it’s like certain pitchers might be facing a team’s best hitters and then certain teams, you get a team on a split squad, and they seem to keep facing, you know, the lesser hitters.
Two, it’s like certain pitchers might be facing a team’s best hitters and then certain teams, you get a team on a split squad, and they seem to keep facing, you know, the lesser hitters.
So it’s hard to, like, it’s hard to weigh it, evenly.
So it’s hard to, like, it’s hard to weigh it, evenly.
But, overall, I think stuff and I think strike throwing is big for pitchers.
But, overall, I think stuff and I think strike throwing is big for pitchers.
regardless of who you’re facing, wanna make sure we’re in the zone a lot.
regardless of who you’re facing, wanna make sure we’re in the zone a lot.
those are the things we look at.
those are the things we look at.
How do you make sure the messaging that you had in spring training in terms of some of the stuff you’re working on carries over-
How do you make sure the messaging that you had in spring training in terms of some of the stuff you’re working on carries over-