Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - The Great Mike Vasil Is Back (And Better Than Ever) | 'Baseball Isn't Boring'

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

From 'Baseball Isn't Boring' (subscribe here): One of the best personalities - and pitchers - in the American League, Mike Vasil, is back on the podcast, this time joining Bradfo and Courtney Finnicum. There is some next-level talk about the White Sox's new bidet (and all the possibilities that come with it), what the pitcher's surprising new role might. be, and tons of great stories from over what has been a wild last year for the righty. It's always a good time with Mike, and this is certainly no exception. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Testing season is right around the corner, and this is when confidence really matters. When kids take time to review key concepts and strengthen their skills before assessments, it can make all the difference. Ixel helps reinforce what they're learning right now, so they walk into every test feeling prepared, capable, and confident. Ixel is an award-winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're building math confidence, strengthening reading and writing skills, or reviewing science concepts.

Designed for students from pre-K through 12th grade, IXL delivers personalized interactive practice that adapts to your child's level and pace. It's an easy, effective way to support learning as the school year heads into its final stretch. Studies show kids who use IXL score higher on tests, proven in all 50 states. IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the U.S.

Make an impact on your child's learning. Get Ixel now, and listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXLlearning.com slash audio. Visit IxLarning.com slash audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. I'm Sarah Turney. And I'm Courtney Nicole. We're the host of the Crimehouse Original podcast, The Final Hours. Crime has impacted both of our families, teaching us how the last conversations, the misbred flags, can change

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to agree. I agree. I agree. I mean, I was very sad that I missed Mike Vassel at Sox Fest over the weekends. I have to give you a little bit of crats for that because I was very disappointed. You know, I've been trying to meet you in person for a long time. Oh, you guys never met in person? We'd never met in person. No. Not in person, no.

Only over Zoom. Well, listen, Mike, if you were at the bar at 1 o'clock in the morning in Orlando during the winter meetings, you would met Courtney. That's out a terrible. A couple times. Whatever. You know, Mike, I did close down the bar all three nights. Every night. Every night. Really? Every night. Yeah.

The three-peat. Oh, I like that. The three-peat. Yes. The three-peed. That was me. It's a t-shirt idea. That's called the Winter Meetings Three-Pee. Well, I did call it My Lincanity Run, if you recall, Rob. My Lincanity Run. That's a story for another day. That is a story for another time, yeah. I will say this, is it like that it was apropos that Courtney dominated the winter meetings because the year before you dominated the winter meetings without even knowing it by getting

taken in the Rule 5 draft. Right. I know. By who? I got taken by the Phillies. That's right. Yeah. Many people, yeah, many people probably don't even realize that.

That I was a Philly for an hour, then a Ray, and then a White Sock. The best team ever. Philly. That's the matter. I was waiting for that. I was going to make my notes if you didn't say that. Did Dave Dombrovsky call you? Did you ever talk to Dave Dombrovsky?

No, so I never talked to anyone from the Phillies. And that is when like an hour, yeah, about around the hour when I got traded, one of the Mets people I texted with, he's like, you heard anything yet? I was like, no, he's like, all right, you're probably getting traded. So that's when I started to get the idea. I was like, it's kind of weird. I haven't heard from anyone from the Phillies. And then a year ago now, you remember the race. And I think it was probably, we did a podcast like right around a year ago because I was fascinated about life as a Rule 5 guy.

And you were fascinating in that podcast, by the way. Excellent job. Thank you. Thank you. You represented all Rule 5 guys perfectly. And then I saw you in camp. and you did you start that day

I don't know you start it any day it was it was the day that I think was that the first game of spring training it might have been it might have been so that was when frace Thompson hit a home run off me but the previous year

I had actually started a scuffle in Scranton and Trace had my back so I remember texting him and he would always joke about like oh you got to pay my fine pay my fine and i was like yeah i'll do it i don't know even know what because he ended up getting tossed really and then his first yeah and then his first i don't know if it was first plate appearance but facing me it's like second batter

yard and i was like all right like you know that's uh even's out now okay before Courtney asked about the white socks plumbing situation which i can't wait to talk about mike all right Right? Because that might take up a half hour for a time. Really could. If you were going to power rank your time with your time with the Tampa Bay race, in case people don't know, you were ultimately didn't stay with a raise. You were you released. Were you DFA?

You ended up with the white side. Yeah, technically it's like DFA, but it's rule five like rules, waivers that I'm on. You ended up with the white socks. Yeah. Yeah. And by the way, we should note, you had an insanely good year. Thank you. Thank you.

5-0-0-E-R-A and 47 games. I think your war was like 2-9. Yeah. Legitimately, I'm not just saying this because you're here sitting here. Literally, generally, one of the best performances by relief pitcher in the American League last year. And honestly, one of the best stories coming out of the White Sox last year, too, was you. I know we've talked about this before, but like, you know, the fans love you now. You know, you're a household name on the South Side, your personality and the whole thing.

But like, the way you came in as a Rule 5 guy, kind of an unknown, and did what you did. I mean, that was a big deal. And you should feel very good about that. Yeah. Thank you. No, it was a, it was a special year to say the least. But I think, you know, I remember at the end of that, at the end of last year, kind of all started hit me. Like, what just kind of happened?

I think there was like six games left. And I remember sitting in the bullpen with Wise, Matt Wise, Bullpen coach. And I remember legitimately saying, I was like, I love the South Side. Like I love Chicago. I was like, I love this place. Like this is awesome. Courtney, are you okay, Courtney? I mean, you know, I get flush, Rob.

You know what I get flushed? You know what I think it happened. Mike, that is, you know, you know, that obviously is very near and dear to me. I mean, like, you've said this. You've said this in other interviews. You've said it to me. But, like, you really are. You fit in perfectly with this team and the vibe and the culture.

Like, and I got to tell you, since you're not at Sox Fest over the weekend, I got to still give you a little bit of crap for that. Will Venable actually was asked a question during one of his pressers about who a clubhouse leader was. And he named your name. He said you're one of the clubhouse leaders. Oh, wow. Well, yeah, Will Venable said it out of his, out of his mouth. I'm like, oh, Mike.

Hello. So, again, you should feel very good about that as well. Being now a second year guy, still being considered a leader, that's a big deal. That's awesome. Yeah. No, 100% that, I mean, that means a lot. I mean, forget about the White Sox. I want to go back to the top three, two moments as a Tampa Bay Ray.

So that Trace Thompson, the Trace Thompson story may have been like top three, right? Yeah, yeah. I mean, that, the Trace thing, for. sure like it was like just so crazy because i'll still even text him occasionally but like just the way that transpired was it was just funny i think oh here's here's a here's another oh i forgot about this so Nate you know Nate Lavender he was my fellow rule five page yeah yeah so we lived in the same house so we're off the back like porch fishing it's like It's not salt. It's like brackish. So you can get like sometimes you'll get, we caught a couple snook, but there's like a lot of catfish and there's like a lot of weird, you know, creatures in this. I'm not the biggest fisherman, but.

Yeah, this is way over my head, Mike. But I'm sticking with you. Yeah. Lab's the guy that really would like do the whole thing. And I just throw the hook out there and pray. So we're sitting out there and we're fishing. and we hadn't met the staff yet. I hadn't met Kasha, I hadn't met anyone. All of a sudden, we're using like, I think it's shrimp, so we're putting our poles down and just letting it, like, sit in the water. All of a sudden, my rod is, like, going crazy.

It's like, wham, loom. And I'm like, laugh, love, blah, blah. And he's, like, coming over, and we're reeling it up. And then all of a sudden we hear like, hey, what's up? or like or no he was like who do we have here and i turn and it's kevin cat it's cash and i'm like i hadn't met him yet so we're like talking and the reel's still like in the water like there's nothing we haven't pulled anything up yet so i'm like oh like i got to reel this thing up so i'm reeling it up but it's not fighting anymore like there's nothing fighting the reel and i'm like

did i like hook like a bucket filled with water i pull it up it's a stingray. Oh my God. Wow. So legitimately, so we were going through and I was thinking, this was like my exact thought process. I was like, I'm with the race. That's Kevin Cash, manager, the raise. And I was also thinking I have no idea how to get this thing off the hook, like at all.

And like, Cash kind of looked at me as like, you don't really know what you're doing. I was like, no. I have no idea. So we put the, we put the stingray on the. on the deck or the porch, he puts like a bucket on its back, a foot on its like sting or whatever.

They cut the, they actually got the hook out of its mouth. And then he just like kind of kicked it back in the water. And like that was my first. Oh, how did, first of all, there's a couple things. Number one. How you didn't get a photo of this moment. I know. I don't.

Well, when we would go out there, we would like leave the phones and it was like total like quiet. It was like quiet. It was like quiet time or whatever. I like that. But like the way it happened and like my introduction to him and the fact that it was also like I was like you can't make this up. No.

And the weird thing is the social, the Ray social media team came out of the bushes and captured the whole thing. Exactly. Yeah. I mean, exactly. What a great story. See? I'm glad I am.

I know. I know. And then probably. I'm trying to think of it. I mean, there was one outing. I had a JetBlue that was, it wasn't like the best, but I just remember it being the windiest day ever. And one of the things that the race would talk about is always like, you know,

like pound strikes down, get ahead, batted ball luck. And I remember Yoshita, it was legitimately so windy in JetBlue this day. Yoshita hits a foul ball. Like it was foul. It went all the way down the left field line over the stands. and the wind was so strong, it, like, blew it back. That lands. Bregman hits, like, a 90-mile-power fly ball to center.

Lands in the triangle. Like, I got to two outs, and I remember after that inning, just, like, thinking to myself, like, I really hope it's not this windy, like, everywhere else in the country, because this is just not, this is not going well right now. You know where I want to go? I want to go to the windy. And I get it. I understand, Courtney.

Don't get me done. It's not named because the wind. I get it. It's not because the weather. It's not. But the wind at Rayfield blows in most of the time. Very good, Mike. Very good.

You've learned. Yes, it does. It's known for two things. The wind blowing in from right field and having the worst Uber slash lift pick up in the league. I talk about this all the time, Mike, and it drives me nuts. It drives me nuts. Well, you know, one of the, I will say, though, I was like Ubering a lot last year at some points. Like, I would be out there amongst, like, the crowd just grabbed.

my Uber. Like, I kind of liked it with my like to go box. But, but I, I can under, like, yeah, in a way. It was kind of weird how you were in four uniform to, to, uh, I'm in full, full spikes and everything out there on the street. Well, speaking, speaking of, uh, guaranteed rate field, there is, there is, listen, they, they've messed up a few things with that field. We can, we can, we can all agree. They turn the home plate the wrong way. Yes. They have a bad Uber lift place.

They don't have a lot around it. But they are trying. They are efforting to make it better. Courtney, please explain how are they making this better? So, Mike, I'm sure you've seen the craziness on social media recently, just as early as yesterday, Scott Merkins' MLB.com article about, because of Maricami, which is very exciting, of course, he had the White Sox install a bidet in the clubhouse.

I'm sure you've seen all this. I have received, yes, many, many texts. I have a Kyle Teal quote about having like the cleanest butt in the league or something. Yeah. And put that on a T-shirt, Rob. Put that on a T-shirt. I mean, the amount of guys I've gotten jokes from about like, we're going to be the cleanest team in the league.

It's just like, I mean, it's kind of funny. It's awesome. I don't know, like, what they're going to do. Have you ever used one, Mike? Have you ever used a day? I've never used one before. Oh, Mike. Oh, I'm, okay.

Easy. Easy. Easy. Easy. Again, I'm getting flush. I, Mike, I am telling you right now. I mark this down as February 3rd. Once you use a bidet, you will not go back.

I promise. I'm going to, I'm going to, so what I'm going to do is when I, meet Miracomi for the first time. Yes. I'm going to get the whole rundown about like, you know, what are the pros and cons and why am I doing this now? I mean, I could give you the pros and cons, but I'm not sure we should do it on the show. But I really hope they install the one that has the heated seats because you've got to get

the full experience. That's all I'm going to say. You really have to. Now, listen, Mike, I'm not how I'm going to explain. the bidet experience isn't going to be nearly as effusive and energetic as Courtney. But I will concur in my spring training house for the last two years, some very nice French-Canadian people who installed one. And I'm like, yep, I can get behind this.

No point. Literally in figuratively. Literally and figuratively. I can get behind this. Yeah, it's going to be, I wonder now, it's going to be like just one bidet. So only one toilet, I think. Wow. So like, is there going to now be like a line?

That's what I'm wondering. Yeah. Well. Yeah, that's a good question. Like, you might be waiting, you know, 20 minutes to use the bathroom now. Yeah, that's a good point. Like that, we're running. That's a problem.

Yeah. Testing season is right around the corner. And this is when confidence really matters. When kids take time to review key concepts and strengthen their skills before assessments, it can make all the difference. Ixel helps reinforce what they're learning right now, so they walk into every test feeling prepared, capable, and confident. Ixel is an award-winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're building math confidence, strengthening reading and writing skills, or reviewing science concepts.

Designed for students from pre-k through 12th grade, IXL delivers personalized interactive practice that adapts to your child's level and pace. It's an easy, effective way to support learning as the school year heads into its final stretch. Studies show kids who use IXL score higher on tests, proven in all 50 states. IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the U.S. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now. And listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXLlearning.com slash audio. Visit Ixllearning.com slash audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best

price. Life can feel overwhelming, but on my podcast, From the Heart with Rachel Braithen, we're in it together. Every Friday brings you a new story. Listen to From the Heart with Rachel Brathen wherever you get your podcasts. So I, with all, great story by Scott Merkin. Yes. But as, Courtney, as you know, I've fancied myself the Biday beat writer for a while. I do know. I do know. This is a lot. I do know. about you. And there are two other examples of teams already doing this. Mike, one was when you were in, where do you go to elementary school? I went to Fisk Elementary School in Walsley. So I was. All right. What year was that? Where were you in 2007?

Yeah, I was in, oh, seven, where would I be first, second grade? Yeah, I was there. When you heard the news, the Dice came out of Zaka was coming to the Reds. Sox. Okay. Well, we know about the posting fee, the 51 and point what, whatever fee that he got. We know about the 11 pitches. What we didn't know at the time was that he also, because he signed with the Red Sox, had a bidet put in the Red Sise clubhouse, which to this day has been utilized every single year since.

and if you want a true scouting, I should have gotten like somebody on, like the Cummins, like the, like if you want a true scouting report, find someone who plays for the Red Sox and say, okay, this is how the Badaeska impact your life

over a course of 162 game season or 81 game season. If I see, which I assume I would. Sean Newcomb. Sean Newcomb. Yes. Yes, that's the one.

Tomorrow in the gym, I'm going, I didn't seem to that I'm going to ask Newk. I'm going to say, hey, what's the deal? What do we got going on? Sean Newcomb. Yep. I don't know if he'll be as excited as I am.

Maybe he will. Maybe it's his life changing as it was for me. I don't know. But I used to hear the roundup. Sean Newcomb seems like a very nice guy. But I haven't, it doesn't seem that excitable. And I don't think the bidet conversation is going to change that. It won't be as entertaining as I could give you.

No. That is for certain. But Sasaki, also this happened with Sasaki with the Dodgers last year, too. So did Yamamoto and Otani hadn't? I don't think so. But Sasaki came in and was like, hey, I. Yeah. This needs to happen.

Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, in fairness, like Yamamoto and Otani said, well, if it's not gold plate, it don't bother. because I have five of them at my house where I am. Yeah. But if you also, the ideas are popping here because T-shirts might be a little tricky, but we're always looking for the guy get on base celebration.

Every team has those, and I think a lot of them are stupid. But if you guys come out and you do something suddenly involving, yeah. involving a bad day. I don't know how you would do that. I can brainstorm. We, trust me, that we, we've got a lot of free time on our hands, you know. I mean, we're at the park a lot. So I think we could, we could, if I got Teal Colson Chase and maybe through in another, like,

more veteran mind, right? Let's see, or Corey Lee's another mind that pops up that that's very creative. what can we do to somehow not step over the line, but not the celebration? Yeah. What was your celebration last year? They would do some like train thing. And then at one point there was a teacup, I think. I always just liked seeing Teal do his celebration.

Teals every time. It would look different every time, but it was supposed to be the same thing. I can see this. He's right. You're absolutely right. It will look different every single time. But like he had a certain thing that he always did, but it changed up every single time. I don't know if he did that on purpose or if he just forgot what he did.

I think it's just the wonders of teal being teal and who he is. I would agree. I think I think this is the ultimate test of their creativity, but I think it can be done. I think it can be done. And by the way, totally. And by the way, it should be done. Let's be honest. It should be.

Yeah. This is, this is, this is a, every team, there's very little things that a team can latch on to say, we are unique in this sense. We, the Chicago White Sox, are unique in the sense that not every team. Listen, you could have the Philadelphia Phillies, you might have that payroll. The Mets, you might have that payroll. The Yankees, you might have the payroll, but you know what you don't have? A bidet.

Bingo. That's it. And I even said on Twitter, Mike, I said, you know what? Now that we have this in the White Saff's Clubhouse, that can account for at least three or four more wins in my opinion. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, like you said, the cleanest butts in the league. I mean, you run faster when you feel clean, right?

I mean. Oh, yeah. Is there a bar bidet above Laverro place? I should have come up with a bar that, like a bidet bar. You know, or you drink and you sit on the bidet? And that'd be kind of fun. A little weird, but. Well, I was thinking.

of a stat, but if you want to take it literal. Yeah. You don't me, Rob, I've got to take it a little sometimes. Players. I mean, honestly, it's not a terrible idea. It's not a terrible idea. I guess not. But, yeah, like players, pre-imposed.

There's probably some saber metric that we could create. Yes. Players that use the bidet compared to not. Yes. And how often they use it? that's what we're going to find out. We're going to find out whether it was the Red Sox or Dodgers. Who were the players who utilized it more than anybody else?

And how did they perform? And how did they perform? Yeah. Like when Sasaki came back and was just dominating out of the bullpen, was he more frequently now using the bidet? Well, and this is, this also opens up to all kinds of problems. with the MLBPA, where we want to make things equal. It's like the trajectory machine.

Traject machine you have at home, but you don't have on the road, right? Yeah, that's a good point. That's never going to be fixed because no one's going to cart around an $800,000 machine on the road. No, no. So how can, is it fair for a team to have a bidet at home and not on the, and the visitors don't have one? We're going to find out.

Yeah, we're going to find out. find out. I told you this was going to take 20, 20 minutes to talk about. When I feel passionate about something, Rob, I could just keep going and go. I mean, there's the idea, there's so many ideas that came from this conversation, including the Badee bar, which is all you would have to do is put up like a little, like, curtain. You have a wall? You don't have a stone?

That would be, that would be very, very, very creative. That would be, I created during the year. an idea about like a bar where you could have like a bunch of like saunas and like tubs and you could like take like a bath while having a drink upstairs and then like downstairs. That's called a ski resort. Yeah.

Yeah. It probably has been created but. I love that. But wait. So I'll wait. Don't don't play catam. Like what you just explained was literally just like barred Florida.

Do you want to know my billion dollar ID? And I'm not even kidding you when I say this. I have said this for years that I want to open up a laundromat that has a bar on the other side. Tell me how this has never been done before. Because I've Googled it. It's very rarely been done. So you're washing. This is more of an urban thing.

You know, New York, Chicago, Boston even. You know, you put your clothes in the laundromat. then you go and you have a drink and wait tell me that's not a million dollar idea I mean I mean that it probably it's a $10,000 idea I mean it's money it's money it's what

you you won't necessarily go bankrupt in the first year I need Mike to help me back it basically you have to put the marketing behind it you just the only thing is like the laundry's got to be you could do like something though

like drink deals based off of how many loads of laundry you're doing. So, you know, like you got a lot of clothes, maybe, you know, you get a few more drinks or something like that. Half off certain loads. Yeah, it depends. You can do a number of things. See, Mike is getting. Have you thought I was crazy, Rob?

Mike's, Mike, I think, honestly, what you should, because you just said, Mike, that you guys have a lot of time on your hands. And I do think that you guys have a creative team. Like, it's starting with teal. I know, I know of them a little bit. but I do think that you guys should do a white socks shark tank oh that that honestly would be in a like unbelievably fun thing to like yeah it really would I mean I want full credit when you do it but

like that would be that would be unbelievable like you know we're going a sacraman like we're going somewhere four hours on the plane yes set it up the four guys set it up the four guys at the most service time, you can be the four sharks, and then we got to pitch our ideas, and then that actually is an unbelievable idea. Thank you. Thank you.

The idea is a pop. He said unbelievable idea, Rob. I mean, your ego is just going to be gigantic all night now. I just, listen, I'm going to Florida and Monday, and I'm just in the zone right now. I'm just,

I can't, you know what I am? I'm in the best shape of my life mentally. You are. You want a T-shirt, Mike? Let's get this one out of the way. Because we're doing that shape of my life club, sponsored by Awakened 180. And we're asking everybody to pick one thing by opening day that they feel like they might be the best achievement of their life.

Courtney, what's yours? It's like an eight-minute mile. It's an eight-minute mile. I want to win a race, not win a race, but I want to run a race like a 5K and under 20. minutes kind of thing. I used to be a runner. So bring that back into my life. So that's, yeah. The way that you said it went from winning a race to like something or it's an eight minute It was. It was an eight minute mile for a 5K. That's what it was. And so Mike, we have a lot of Joe, CEO Joe Kelly. It's going to bench press 225 pounds once. Amir Garrett's going to do a windmill dunk.

Brandon Goams, the GM of the Dodgers is going to do 50 push. although now I don't even think that's that much because our guy Gordo in studio the other day did 45. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah. So, and Combs is jacked too. Yes. Yeah.

I mean, he's, so, uh, so what do you want to pick? It'd be if you, and if you do it, you get the best shape of my life club t-shirt. And if you're in Boston, you can come to a party. All right. Trying to think of something that I could do. It doesn't have to. It can be, what was it? Ryan O'Hern said he wants to throw 80.

Because he doesn't feel like he has a strong throwing arm. He wants to throw 80. Ken Lee said he'll throw 96 on opening day. Ooh. I don't want you to do, I don't want you to do something where you're going to hurt yourself. Yeah, don't do anything crazy. Yeah. Like I can't be like, oh, I'm going to, you know, deadlift 500 pounds by opening day.

I mean, I could try, but honestly, maybe it could be like by, I don't know, let's give me, um, because I don't know exactly when I'm going to pitch. When does it, when does it need to be by opening day? By opening day. 99 miles an hour by opening day. Oh, my God. Hold on. I'm drawing up the legal form disclaimer. Oh my God.

I like it. I like it too. Because I'll be in a good spot. What? I have to ask. That would be an all-time PR. Yeah. What is your PR right now?

I've gotten up to five right now in lives, which is harder than I've ever. Like last year at this point, I was like one to three in lives. Okay. So for me to be there right now, I'm ahead of where I usually. am. Okay. And I, and I, my, my highest average velocity ever last year. What was your highest velocity? What was the hardest pitch you've ever thrown? Ever in my life, it's like 98.2 or something. And when was that? A couple years ago. So then this year I was up to, I think 98, 98 or internal system, it was like 97. By the way, if you're going to hit 99, can't you just like go to 100? I know. I know.

I know. Well, that's the thing. It's like, I would love to just say 100. But I know guys that have hit 100, but I know a lot of guys who have hit 99. And there's guys who are like the hardest jump they've ever made is like from 99 to a hunt. Like that is like. All right. And I don't want, I want you to be realistic. And I don't want you to hurt yourself. Yeah. Don't push them too hard, Rob. Please. Or, or, okay. So I'm texting, Brian Bannister right now. I was going to say. How do you spell don't blame me? All right. Go ahead. All right. Well, all right.

So if it's not going to be something like that, it could be like that. No, it can be if you want. I mean, I just don't. You can do it. Listen, it's like Courtney. Come on. I'm encouraging you. We can do it.

There's nothing more I would love than to do that. All the cool kids are doing it. All the cool kids are doing it. You can hit 99. I have full confidence in you. I don't know. There'd be nothing more than I'd love to do that. You know what?

crazy is that in so obviously you amp up like you said 90 but that's a significant thing hitting 95 and now and early februaries what's crazy is that i watched crochet in chapman pitch it was like on valentine's day or something like that on the big field and they were both blowing a hundred like which is i'm like this isn't normal no no that that's not like there's there's a few guys who I feel like I saw in spring that were you know 93 96 but like during the year they're like 96 99 or like but there are some guys that legitimately it does not matter when where what when they're on the mound it's just always I'm going to give you the other option okay all right go it's nothing to do with bench pressing, windmill dunking, or losing weight or whatever, or running an eight-minute mile. So what's your, what do you throw a sleeper? Yeah, I throw a sweeper. Yeah, I throw a sweeper. Okay.

What's your best horizontal on a sweeper? This year at city field, I grabbed 25 inches. Oh. So like, I legitimately, I, if I have an idea of where you're going with this. Yeah. I mean, I could try it. Okay. 26, that is moving.

Here's the thing. Wow. I'm going to do you, I'm doing you a favor. And here's why. You, you, you, this is the circle of life of this podcast. The, you know how you said it was so windy in Florida? Yes. Okay.

You know, Joe Ryan threw that like 30 inch sweeper that, you know, that went viral. Yeah. Yeah. We sat down and I wanted to diagnose it with him. And he said, a big part of that was the wind, the wind, right? Yeah. So here's what you got to do. The windiest day you pitch in spring training, you stay your catcher,

we're throwing all sweepers today. And make sure you have the contraption hooked up so we're measuring this baby. Yeah. I think I could do it. 26. 26. Because there was other times not on the windy days where I grabbed, like, against Houston at home. I grabbed a couple 22, 23.

Like, it's been, it's been 18 to 20 right now. So, like, and that's inside, no other factors. So, I mean, I, I, but 26 is, that's moving. I mean, Mike, how good did that feel throwing that against your old team as well? I mean, that must have been... Yeah, so I remember it too. It was against Brett Beatty. It was one of my strikeouts.

And like on the angle, it's weird. Like, it doesn't look like it moves that much. But, like, afterwards, he had, like, texted me. He was, like, 25 inches on the sweeper back to, like, what was that? Right, yeah. And, but the same thing is, like, guys had said, I think it was, Hauser had told me, like, when he was... pitch for the Mets like when it gets windy at city field too like stuff will just take off i believe it

like it's crazy yep i believe it that that's amazing i love that i never knew that i got to go back to look at that pitch now we'll lump it together either or either 99 or 26 inches could you imagine if i did both in one outing i was like you know what you get you get two t-shirts Oh. I like that. Don't get him too excited now. I like that. Oh.

Anyway. All right. What else? So tell me how in year two as a major leager. And again, it seems like yesterday. Do you remember? You don't have to remember. I won't be offended.

Do you remember the first time we met? At the futures game, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Hey, Courtney, tell your dad that.

I will make sure he's well aware of the first time of my view. She said that her dad likes my voice. Yeah, he did say that. I mean, between the bidet talk and this and like it's like feeling really good about myself. You really are. But it does feel like and then, you know, we talked and you were struggling with the Syracuse Mets and then, but our senses were keen. We knew that you were going to be some, a big deal.

And then next thing you know, you're one of the best relievers in the American and league. So now I think Courtney will join me and saying our consensus are keen that you're going to have another outstanding year. But what is going to be different for you, if anything? What did you say, all right, I'm going into this year and I got this one under my belt. It went well, but now it's time to go. Let's go. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's like I've had, obviously in the past, like I've had good seasons before but nothing compares to having one of the best seasons you've ever had at the highest level of baseball you can play.

So I think for me is like still as a younger guy though too it's like okay looking at the year how do I repeat that what can I do and what was my mindset going into the year to begin with that I can continue to still have because the worst thing I'd want to do is you know oh I had a lot of success whatever

and like it's easy to like think you're maybe supposed to like just naturally supposed to get good results, you know, which is like the totally wrong way to approach baseball. It's too hard. It's a game of failure. So for me, like what I continue on is like, okay, you got to take care of the basics. First pitch strikes. Two strikes before two balls, like the two out of three.

You know, off speed for strikes, controlling the running game. Like all the little things still matter a lot. What I think I have now, though, which I didn't have last year until I experienced it, was just like pitching in all different types of situations. So, you know, extra innings, save opportunities, starts, middle innings, how to take care of myself throughout the year. Those are the things that I think I can continue to build on to be like, okay, what do I notice about the other guys around the league, too, that have continued to do this for a while?

And like one of the things I've noticed about all the guys who have become a free agent, signed a contract, stayed in the league for a while, is like they're still always working on something. Like can always working on something. So like for this year already, which not many people know, but like I'm starting to develop like a different type of slider. So like last year it would be a cutter on TV. and it's starting to become very popular. Like a lot of people are calling it like a death ball or whatever. Oh, yeah. It's just, so what I'm doing is like, all right, how can I improve my arsenal even more?

What do I want more of? I want more swing and miss from left-handed hitters. I got a ton of ground balls last year. How can I take lefties now and get more width? Okay, I have a curve ball, but the big movement isn't playing as much as maybe like the tighter, more downer or breaking ball. So like that's something I've been working on this year. Like I think for me it's just continuing that fine tinkering of my stuff, my game, and everything and layer it on top of what I've already done before.

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slash audio. Visit IxLlearning.com slash. audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Welcome to Radio Rental. The scariest stories you've ever heard in your life. All told by real people. And off we go. This wasn't a human being that I saw.

There's something here in this house, something not of this world. There was a woman moving through the hall. I stepped back and I was completely alone. Radio Rental is available now. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, you mentioning that you went through a lot of experiences made me immediately remember on, uh, dislooked it up, uh, April 19th where I legitimately felt bad for you. Like on a, I felt bad for you on April 19th.

Trying to think about what that day was. It was when, oh, oh, oh, yeah. Oh yeah. Now I know. exactly what it is. I know exactly, but that's what I'm saying. If I had never experienced that game in extra innings

at Fenway like that. In front, Courtney, in front. All these patients complaining they can't get their medicines. Insurers and PBMs are often owned by the same giant company, so middlemen, like me, decide what medicines you can get and how much you pay. But don't

worry, if your prescription gets denied, we know another one that works for us. I mean, you. Washington should stop PBMs and insurers from driving up drug costs. Learn more at phrm.org slash insurer costs, paid for by pharma. I mean, they had, like, it's hard to get tickets at Fenway anyway, but for some of, but you had all your chain and, you know, all these, Sean and all these guys, like, it was half the, Half the Fenway stands were full of White Sox family members. Yeah, exactly, because there's so many, so many mask guys there.

But like, that was, so I remember right after that, I was like pretty upset. But I also realized I was like, okay, like, it's extra innings on the road. Like, what can I learn from this? The next extra innings game I pitched in was against Cleveland when I ended up going three innings. And I remember taking away for myself, like, okay, you're already in a hole to begin with with a guy on second and no outs. Like, you can get out of this. Like, you are one pitch away.

Like, we saw it, we see it a lot throughout the year with, like, some of these games that go 14, 15 in it. So that's what I'm saying, though. Like, that's an experience that's not a positive one. But, like, I had to experience that to then ultimately the next time I got a shot, be better. But I say that because I just remember thinking, you know, you're a couple weeks off of, you know, you're a Rule 5 guy. Like you're a rookie. Like in this moment where this park where I've been, you have been there.

I have been there. We've talked about all the different, like how it can feel on top of you. Oh, yeah. Right? And you're in. Yeah. And you come in for the, I think, what, the 10th inning, right? Yeah.

In the 10th inning and yeah. That was the first time I legitimately felt the ground shake before. Like I'd never experienced that because it was so loud. Like it was crazy. So Mike, you mentioned, and I think we know this obviously from your season last year, that you were in a lot of roles, right? You closed games, you started, you spots started, you middle relieved. I mean, you were kind of all over the place.

Do you feel like with the new additions that the White Sox have made, And let's be honest, there's been some, some tall of Sarana by the White Sox, not just with Maracami, but some of the other moves as well. Do you anticipate your role being more streamlined now compared to last year or any feedback on that so far? I mean, I know it's not, you know, where we got a spring training. So, yeah, yeah. So I talked to Will and Zach Boe of our new pitching coach. Yep. So I know I'm going to be going into camp as a starter competing for a starting role.

They had told me that, you know, which I think is a great opportunity. Will let me know. He said, you know, I think you've kind of earned the opportunity to do this and, you know, you threw a lot of innings. But he said on the phone, you know, he's like, I want you to be a guy that just pitches a lot. Anyway, just a pitch a lot guy. So, you know, for me, it's like I just want to pitch regardless and, like, help the team win. You know, like, I don't think I'm in necessarily a position right now to, oh, I need to pitch

that like I haven't done enough or been that type of guy yet and it's too much fun right now pitching in the big leagues with these guys with the opportunity to win so you know for me but I definitely think there will be a lot more clarity for everybody you know like we have sir anthony dominguez that's you know pitched in very high leverage situations in two world series um grant taylor's another year further Jordan leisure pitched unbelievably down the stretch last year. Yes, you did. You know, and you just have a lot of guys coming back where I feel like we all now have

a better idea of, okay, how do we win games? And, like, that's what I look back on is kind of how we finished the year last year. We go into Detroit and we win us. We take two out of three against the team that's making a playoff push and we won close games. Like, to a lot of people that might not seem like much, but to a guy that's younger with a lot of younger teammates, learning how to win those games on the road, that means something.

Like, that is meaningful baseball for us in our development. So, you know, yeah, I, for me, in terms of my role, I know I'm going and competing for a starting role, but to me, I just love pitching. I just want to go pitch regardless. Starting is cool, though. Yeah, starting is cool. It is very cool.

It is very cool. I know, I know. Starting is awesome. I also love, I also love. also love closing. I'm not going to lie. Closing is. And I don't know what it is. I think it's just something about when the game is on the line. You just have to go to like a certain place and like I love that. Like knowing that I can have the ball in my hands when it like I will legitimately win the game for my team. It's like the best feeling ever. What was your what was your walking music?

It was, so Sean Burke and I, it was a song called Music Sounds Better With You, but I just like, it wasn't like a closer song per se, but Sean Burke and I had picked the same song, so I think they gave me like a remix version. But honestly, a lot of the time coming out of the pen, like there could be ads going on. There could be some, you know, it's, you know, like, yeah, like they could be doing something on the score. board like we're kind of just like you're coming in it's not like the same especially because sometimes like you come in with a clean inning they're doing something in between innings it really depends you know what they're going to do they're going to have uh don't go chasing waterfalls to for the bidet theme that was that was that wasn't a great one but it was off the top. I was doing my best. Your

mind is sharp right now. I was doing, it wasn't great. As we all know, though, you got very jazzed up when you closed, too. That game against the Yankees, my favorite game. My favorite game with you. Really? Oh, oh, oh, yeah. Go ahead.

Yeah, go ahead, Mike. Tell it. Yeah. So, I remember warming up and Sosa hit that home run to center. Yep. And they called and they were like, all right, Boozer Scott Grisham, regardless, you're going to have the next three guys. And I looked and I'm like, I know what the lineup is, but just to like remind myself. So I look and I'm like, all right, Goldschmidt Bellinger or Goldschmidt Judge Bellinger.

Yep. And I was like, all right. So I looked at wise. Let's go. I'm like, let's go. So I looked at Wise or bullpen coach. And he's like, he kind of was like, do you even need a guy? like what because there's not like in those moments it's like I don't really want a ton of information going

into it like we played them now that was the fourth game in the series like if you don't know what you're going to do at that point I was like I told wise I was like I've got a plan so go out there get goldsmith fly out I got judge one two and I backed up a slider and he this was one of the for the highest flyballs I've ever seen my life. Out. And then I punched out belly on a front hip, sinker to attend the game. And I just, like, lost my mind. But there was, like, unbelievable energy at the ballpark that day.

Yes, there was. Yes, there was. There was, like, a legitimate buzz at the ballpark. And you fed off on it. You could feel off on it, right? Like, because it was buzz. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

I mean, and that's why you react to the way you did it. Plus, obviously, strike, you know, striking out Bellinger, and obviously getting judged to pop out, didn't hurt. But there was energy and you, I mean, that was awesome that you picked up on that. I mean. Oh, yeah. And again, like I said, the fans loved it. They loved it.

You were like, you were memed. I mean, that video of you said up in your chest. Oh, my God. It was all over the internet for a full day. Was it Tyler Phillips level? Oh, our buddy Tyler Phillips. What was? Oh, when he's slapping himself.

I've seen that. I've seen that. That's also awesome. It is actually awesome. We love it. We love it. What, I, uh, I've been remiss and not asking you, were you asked to play in WBC at all?

I was not. No, I was not. Are you, is that, are you Italian? What are you? I'm not. I'm Albanian. Oh, wow. Is that, hold on, I got a check.

Does Albania have the team? I would not have gotten that from you. No, but, but I don't, I don't know. I got to go through my family records and like all of this stuff. I feel like, I feel like we can find something. Some Italian something. You look Italian.

Yeah, no. There's got to be some something. But like do I do the 23 and me? Like, do I do that? I think you should. If you want to play in the WBC, you do? Because I know, I'm living with Teal during spring and he's leaving me. Yes.

He's catching. For Team Italy. Yeah. Which is bizarre. I never could sense Italian from him. I know. I got to figure it out. I got to figure it out. I mean, in fairness, like, I'm not to saying this because you're here, you're good enough.

You could play for your home country. I mean, we don't have to figure this. We don't have to tie ourselves into not hoping that Team Albania makes the next time you do. Yeah. Right? Like, you can play for Team USA. Like, you're that good. Thank you.

Thank you. Yeah. I mean, that would be insane. That would be awesome. Well, yeah, yeah, that would be awesome. Well, Tell Teal will bring back some gear, if nothing else. I know. I'll see him soon.

So you're living with Teal? Oh, yeah. Oh, that'll be a time. The two of us. This has to be like, if we're going to power rank best living accommodations, roommates, combinations, Courtney, I think this might be the top of the list. I mean, I think I need to go when I'm in Arizona and like do a reality show with Mike Vassel and

their house. It's going to be, it's going to be something special. I don't know like. And it's going to be interesting too because I don't, Teal is such a, not a picky eater, but he's a very like, I'll describe him as like a streaky eater. Like if he gets hooked on something, like he'll eat that every meal for like, a while. So for a good bit during the season, he was eating only lamb chops.

Oh, my God. Literally lamb. We go to a steakhouse in Toronto, all these steaks, everything. He's like, can I get the lamb? And I saw him one night. It was like 1230 in the lobby, Toronto. I'm like, what do he, what do he get? And he's like, lamb.

At 1230. All right. Yeah. And it's unbelievable. It's like, so, and he loves to grill and do everything. And so it'll be good. I mean, we'll have a solid. I don't know when he leaves or all that stuff starts.

That's a good question. Rod, do you even know? I have no idea. I think it's honestly, he'll probably be leaving in the 20s, in the 20s. But we'll all do respect for T. Middley and our great friend Adam Ottavino. Yes. He might be back pretty quick. I would think so.

Yeah. We don't know. We don't know. We don't know. I don't know what pool they're in either. Yeah. Well, our guy, Sean Spradling, actually, I think he said he was kind of high on them. Did he say, he actually, like, lumped them in with, like, Canada.

Really? All right. Okay. Mike, do you cook at all? Are you, do you cook? Do you throw it out in the kitchen? I do cook. I mean, I'm not doing anything crazy. Yes. Pretty typical. But, like, you know, like rice, like taco bowl, something like that. You bake? That's one thing I do not do.

All right. Yeah. This is my expert segue into the final thing because you've been very generous with your time. Yes, you have. You watch Drake May's wife bake. Oh, bake miss, yeah, yeah. All right. Yeah, I can't bake.

I don't even know where I just thought. Are you inspired? Who are you more inspired by Drake May's wife baking or Drake May? Well, I mean, I don't want this question to go one. I mean, what he's doing is amazing. But I will say to go from a whatever it was a four-win team last year to the Super Bowl, I mean, you know, I got to go with Drake. Rob, can I ask Mike my Shane Smith question, please, so I can get this off my chest?

Oh, yeah. Do you remember what that was? Mike, I don't know if you know this. I don't know if I've told you this, but I'm a die-hard Denver Bronco fan. Oh, boy. Okay. Die-hard Denver Bronco fan. Yeah, I think I did know that.

Okay. Probably social media or something, but that's a long story of why I am, but I may diehard Denver Bronco fans. So obviously, as you can imagine, I was not happy with you a couple weeks ago in the Patriots and the whole nonsense. Sox Fest, I was interviewing Shane Smith, and I'm going to ask you what I asked him. And that's not a need you to be honest here, okay? I know you can be honest. How badly would the Broncos have beaten the Patriots of Bow Nix for Healthy, be honest? Be honest.

So here's the thing is, I mean, I'm going to get crucified for this, but I don't know if they win that game if Bo Nix is like, but at the same time, if Bo Nix is playing now, like, I don't understand football on like that high level of like the, you know, the strategy, the play, like everything. I know it enough. Like, you know, it's such a tough question because you never really know. but if the Patriots offense had done what they done and like played the way they played like not whatever I just it's going to be hard for them to win that game like it's going to be hard for the Patriots defense to completely shut them down now at the same time it didn't happen oh I know it didn't happen but the only touchdown they scored was then I'm literally giving it to you guys in the red zone but I digress.

To your point. Listen, Courtney, I think that Mike explained it perfectly when he said, it's a tough question because you never really know until you know. He's right. And New England, they play very conservatively. Which is an expert way of saying, I don't want to make anybody mad.

100%. And I do a pre. Slowly, it's very, very politically correct on your part, Mike, so I'll give you a little bit of questions now. You know, but I mean, think about like the world series you know uh that play with rojas if uh at at home plate with the touching uh who who's catching at that point was it will smith yeah well smith like you know it's like two inches could it right imagine if he had to feel that ground ball in the snowstorm i mean yeah or

if it was raining or imagine if rojas was that third for whatever reason you know we we don't know we don't we will never know we we don't we don't know all right but you know what i think that game would have been a little different. But Courtney kind of knows. I kind of have an idea. That's all right, though. So last thing, give us the prediction. Give us the Super Bowl prediction.

Because there's only one person on this podcast who has been to a Patriots game in person this year. That is true. And that's you. Yes. Yes. So give me the prediction. I mean, this seems, this seems surprised me all year.

The Patriots have surprised me all year. I honestly think it is going to. to be a very high scoring game. Like I'm talking like 35, 32 type because Seattle's so explosive. Like they're going to do something at some point where they go on a run. But I also think the Patriots have had enough time to prepare to like, you know, put together their game plans and everything. Obviously I'm taking my Patriots.

3532? 3532. Well, Seattle can turn the ball over a little bit too, which will. help you guys, I think. Right. Yeah. And especially like, okay, can we, can we shut down JSN a little bit or just make him a little somewhat irrelevant, you know, like, but what I will say is like I really do hope they

stick with the run game, the Patriots do, because I feel like when they're clicking and they have Trevion and Remandre going at the same, like, it is such a tough team to be. I agree with you. I think, I think Henderson. and is such a good running back and it's going to be so good. I'm jealous that you guys have and I wanted Denver to draft him so I am jealous.

He's very, very good. Well, to finish things off, to show how keen my synapses are, they're popping. And I'm going to ask you this question, which I think may be the best question ever asked to you. You were at the Ortiz Grand Slam game.

Yep. Game 2 ALCS hits the Grand Slam to tie against the targets. I say the most impactful hit in Red Sox history. You were there. You were in the stands. I know this. Which was more impressive? The David Ortiz Grand Slam or the Malcolm Butler Interception.

Ooh, that actually might be one of the best questions I've ever been asked. Hold on. Let me write that down. Write that down, Rob. Yeah, now you're going to write that down. I mean, Because both have a backstory to him. Like, that's the issue.

By the way, Joaquin Benoit, here's a backstory. Joaquin Benoit was tipping his change up. That's the back story. Yeah, but like wasn't, didn't, or somebody had let him know that Ortiz knows. Wasn't it like Tori Hunter? Yeah. Yeah. So like.

They put the dinner the night before. That's the issue is like both moments in sports history here have like a true backstory to him. So it's not like they're just like a miracle. I mean, the Butler Interception did end like the drought of Super Bowls, but they'd already won. I got to go with the Grand Slam. I got to go with the Grand Slam because one, just that year being what it was, 2013, the marathon, like, it was such an impactful year on Boston. and just like David Ortiz being who he was.

But like the Butler Interception is close, very close. But just that year's a whole. And compared to the year prior with the Red Sox in 2012, going to 2013, I mean, it's close, but I got to stay with the Bobby. You know what was crazy? And Cordy, real quick, which one do you want to pick? I don't want to leave you out. Oh, I would do the Ortiz Grand Slam.

Absolutely. Just because I hate the Patriots, no offense. That's fair. What was crazy? I saw this today. that the tackle right before the interception, the, the, uh, high tower tackle was like he was walking in and then, yeah, and I don't, that's a whole other podcast. Most importantly, we get to the bottom with a lot of important stuff, both figuratively and

literally. So, yeah. Got it? We got it. We got it. Hey, Mike. Listen, you're one of our favorites. And I really appreciate you taking the time.

And, uh, and, uh, you're, you're all. all that's right with a great game of baseball. So thanks for everything. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me on. With the new year upon us, there's no better time to take control of your finances. Follow and listen to Jill on Money wherever you get your podcasts.