Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 138 | Lance Lynn Thought He Blew the 2011 World Series

Episode Date: May 1, 2020

Lance Lynn discusses coming up and relieving with St. Louis and the 2011 World Series run, hanging out on his farm, his stint with the Yankees, and reminds us how much talent is on the Texas Rangers roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Talking Baseball. We've got a very fun interview for you today. We're chatting with Michael Lance Lynn. What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to Talking Baseball. I'm John Boy. I got Jake with me. I got Trev with me.

Producer BVD's here. And we just got done recording. A very fun interview with Lance Lynn. We're excited to bring it to you guys. Jake. You said you're riding high off that interview? You enjoyed it thoroughly. Yeah.

It's a... Cured your back. It's my goal going in that we just have conversations with dudes. And that's what it was. Just a great dude. Like you can't... No one can walk away from that interview and be like, I don't think I like that guy.

Yeah, that's true. I mean, but he... See, he says that he comes off as a dick. Well, we're giving it away. But he says he comes off as a dick in a post-game interview. but I think that he there's like this whole kind of internet meme about how he's the best interview after games and all that and he's great like I think that people like Lance Flynn and they're going to like him even more they're listening to this and just see just kind of get into his mind a little bit

yeah and either either way he won't be it he doesn't care about what you think either way whether you like him or dislike him Lance is going to do his thing my favorite part of this interview was a rejection. He basically rejected Jake's date proposal. So that was the highlight for me. I hope you guys get to get into it and hear that because it was pretty good. Stop it.

Trev, you, you didn't like, you did a deep dive into his stats right before we went live. And you, I think a lot of people will do, had the same reaction that you did. We were like, oh, shit, this guy's good. Like not your average starting righty pitcher. Like Lance Lynn's got some stats.

Yeah, I think if you're like a St. Louis Cardinal fan, you know. But for me, you know, I played in a different league than him, so I didn't really get to face him. But as I'm looking, I mean, he's a workhorse. He had Tommy John in 16, but other than that, he's been a guy that takes the ball and he starts 30 games a year. You look at his other numbers. They're all good across the board.

You had a little hiccup year in 2018, but then comes back in 2019, pitching in one of the most hitter-friendly parks, and puts up essentially an MVP-type year last year. I mean, he was eighth overall, like position players, pitchers alike in war last year. And that's really hard to do when you're only getting the ball and playing in 30 games. So, yeah, like you said, I was pretty surprised at the numbers. and then getting to talk to him. He's definitely, I mean, that was great.

That was a lot of fun. Yeah, I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's just a phone call, so he's not a video chat for anyone that's watching on YouTube. But let's just get to it. Should I throw it right to it? Here is Lance Lynn, the classic transition noise. We always play.

We are joined by Ole Miss Rebel, Lance Lynn. You also might know him from the Cardinals. now on the Texas Rangers shoved last year. Lance, how you doing, man? I'm doing well, guys. Thanks for having me. Thanks for coming on, man. Where are you?

Right now I'm in Southern Illinois. I am at my hunting farm. I figured what a better time to be away from people than be on some acreage and doing some farm work. Is it hunting season? Can you hunt right now? I'll get some turkey hunting going on right now, but most everything right now is getting everything

I got to make sure all the tree stands are safe and all the straps are good, make sure you got your shooting lanes, all that. We're a little early on some of the stuff, but I figured I got some time, so I might as well do it while I can be here to help out. I love it. Is that a spot you found while with the Cardinals, Southern Illinois? Yeah, so I was my last year in St. Louis, I found it I hunted over here, and then I got with a, I got a couple buddies that are big into it, and it's,

something that it's kind of come along over the years for me. And then I found a spot over here. My wife's from down here. So we found a spot about 30 minutes from her family and all that. So it's a good little spot for hunting season because it's right around Thanksgiving and all that. So we can just come over here and spend a week or two for Thanksgiving and hunt a little bit. And then it's got a nice little lake on it through a go some fishing. So it's like a summer lakehouse also.

So it's good. Are you serving turkeys you, you hunt down for Thanksgiving? Because that's what I would expect. No? Okay. No, we didn't get one this year. We're trying to think if that's going to be something we do when I'm done playing or it's like, hey, you better shoot a turkey or we don't eat this Thanksgiving.

So we're going to have to work on that later. Yeah, that sounds just about right. I like it. Yeah. We got a bunch of deer meat, though. So we're doing that. That's a good little snack for over the summer in the pre-year. are you a bow hunter or are you a gun guy or both?

I both early on was all like shotgun over here. So I was all of that. And then over the last couple of years, especially once I got my elbow fixed and it didn't hurt to try to bow hunt me more. I got into that and it feels more like you're actually not cheating. So I enjoy bow hunting more. All right. So hey, Lance, we want to go deep into, not deep, but wanted to talk about some of your past moments and all that stuff.

But first off, what was the quarantine going home process for you guys and the Rangers there? We've talked to a couple other players who they thought they were going to hang around in camp for a little bit. So, and then eventually had to go home. Was there a moment for the Cardinals where you guys were all told like, hey, get out of here? With the Rangers, yeah. I don't know what the Cardinals did. Yeah, my bad. No, yeah, once we got the news that everything was shut down, we all stuck around because you didn't know what, at that moment, we didn't know how long it was going to be and this or that.

So it was kind of a weird time. Everybody was kind of in limbo. It's like, do we go back to our home cities or do we go back? Or like, you know, do I go back to Dallas or do I go home? So it's kind of like we sat there for about a week because we had another two weeks of spring training. So we wanted to make sure we got all the info first. The Rangers decided to stay around as a group so we can make a group decision on what's the best case because we didn't want to know.

We didn't want to all leave in case the season or less we were going to be right back into it. You know, we just didn't know. We didn't have enough information to just jump, ship and go. And then once we got more information, MLB kind of gave us some more guidelines of, hey, this is going to be a while. And then we were able to, you know, make a decision where I think most of the guys that, that were there, decided to go home because they knew it was going to be a multiple months situation. And then guys that are from Dallas, obviously all went back there. And so that was kind of our decision.

It was like, hey, where you want to be held up for two, three months, maybe even more? And so everyone kind of made their own decision from there. Was it just good vibes at spring training this year? I mean, you guys bring in Gibby, which gives you guys a strong, I mean, a crazy veteran, one, two, three up top with you, minor, Gibby. You got gallows coming back from injury. You guys are getting the new stadium. I mean, are you guys just juiced up all spring or what?

Yeah, and then you throw in, you know, the Corey Klooper, the two times I young guy that everyone wants to ride off. So we were looking forward to it. And then, you know, with our, you know, our number five being Jordan Lyles, who's, you know, found a new gear in his career here, especially at the end of last year when he got traded over to Milwaukee. We were really looking forward to it,

especially on the pitching side. We knew we had some guys who could hit and drive the ball out of the ballpark. So we just needed to make sure that, you know, we started games and went deep in the game. So we could, you know, shorten the games for our bullpen because we've got some talented arms in the back end, too. So we were really looking forward to what we could bring to the season here. New stadium as well. I can't believe you forgot Kluber.

That's ridiculous that you forgot. Yeah, that's good. Good analysis by me leaving out the two-time Sy Young winner. That's good thing. Hey, I fucked up the Cardinals, Texas thing. So, Trevor, you got to fuck something up soon enough, and then we're all square. I kind of want to dig into like some pitch usage, some baseball nerd stuff, because you are a guy that throws your heater a lot. But it's not like it's one pitch.

It's, I mean, this is coming from Gibby, too. It's three pitches. Cut, sink, four seamer. Has the new technology, the edutronic cameras, the ultra-slow stuff, like, has that helped you with like finger pressure? or is it something that you kind of do naturally or have developed over the years? Like, has that helped you, like, develop even further? I would say, yeah.

I think it's more based on where I need each pitch to land on each hitter per their swing path and what they like to do and how they like to, say, to try to elevate the ball or something like this, how can I export certain things in their swing with every pitch? So, you know, what I've learned, a long time ago is no hitter likes to cover both sides of the plate with the coming, you know,

coming into him and going away from them. And then you can elevate up and then, so what I try to do is I just X each side of the plate and then have the four seam that I can plant on all four corners. And next thing you know, it's like, hey, he's just throwing fastball in their minds. But it's multiple different scenarios and multiple different pitches, whether you want a backdoor sinker, backdoor cutter, you know, front hip it, all kinds of different stuff. And then every once in a while, when you just get fired up, you just grab the old four-seamer and throw it by them up top. So it was one of those things where, yeah, you just kind of evolved.

I think a lot of it is my Cardinals days was all they ever talked about was sink the ball, sink the ball, sink the ball. And then I developed the cutter off that, and I never lost a force seamer. And then now the game's all about throw your four-seamber up in the zone and let it ride. And I could always do that. but I was frowned upon my earlier years because I got too many foul balls and, you know, if you threw the ball up in the zone, you know, they could hit it out of the ballpark. So now, you know, being that being ingrained in me to sink it and cut it,

now I can do all of it on both sides of the plate and I still have my for steamer. So if I get my curveball back, I might be all right here in the future. That's the plan. You might be all right. How does the communication work with the catcher with the fastballs? I mean, is he thrown down fastball and you're choosing which one or is, Or is it three different fingers? It's three different fingers because when you look at, I mean,

the cutters anywhere from 88 to 92, four-teamer can get up, you know, to 95, 96, and then the sinker, I can go where anywhere from 80, you know, 88 to 94-95. It depends on what I'm trying to do with it. If I'm trying to run it in hard or if I'm trying to get that, almost that change-up like sync action. So it just for them to know the pitch shape gives them a better, better job fish with all the framing and stuff like that.

You know, we get a good idea of, you know, they put down one, but there's a variety of ways I can get to the other two without even shaking. So it makes it real easy that we can kind of maneuver through the game where they could put down one every pitch, and I can throw a different pitch by giving them a different little thing to keep the game moving without shaking. Touched some of the buttons on the jersey, stuff like that? I think that was like my computer. Never enough.

Yeah, you got a little bit of everything. Guys got all kinds of stuff. Some of it's pretty obvious that you can just switch around and mess with the guys. And then some of it is, you know, you can't really talk about it because it's, you know, some might be a little interesting for other people to understand what you're doing with your hands, motions or something like that. I love the analytics can even come into to play with the multiple fastballs and stuff. But what I love about watching you pitch is the mentality you bring to the mound.

We're Yankees fans. So when you got traded over, I mean, it was just a ton of fun that first start, I think, he made in Chicago after the Yankees got blown out in the Red Sox by the Red Sox. I mean, you shut the White Sox down, but you were also screaming, yelling on the mound, bringing this, like, kind of, I don't know, just bravado. Is that, is that mindset or who you are on the mound? Do you have to mentally get yourself there? Or is that just naturally who you are when you're on?

you're out there. No, there's just something that happens when I'm standing on a mound and someone's trying to hit against me. It's just pure anger that takes over. And I'm out of my whole life. So I've got to learn how to tame it down a little bit because younger in my days, especially with the Cardinals, it was, oh, he has a bad attitude. And then what I have weird part about is when you start pitching better, it's like, oh, man, he's a bulldog. No, I'm still the same guy with the same meanness that I was before. But if you pitch a little better, you're a bulldog. If you struggle, you have a bad attitude. So I just decided if I pitch better, no one will talk to me about it anymore

and they'll leave me alone. And it worked. Yeah. I mean, I remember you struck out, you struck out Polka in the White Sox during that game and just turned off the mound and screamed, fuck you motherfucker. And walked up and the mics picked it up. And it was like, hell yeah. I love this guy.

It just pops out every once in a while. I try to hold those end because you don't want to, I mean, when it's all of a sudden, you don't want to, you know, that was nothing at him. It's just one of those things where I get going and it kind of takes over. So it's never at a player. And I've actually never yelled directly to a player or at a player. Sometimes it just comes out. And that's just the unfortunate thing of it.

But, you know, it's okay. Because when I give up a homer and they want to fit me, I'm okay with it. Yeah, they got me. It's part of it. Yeah, it's just in the moment. It's like Cece is very similar to you in that way, where he's always yelling and screaming, but it's nothing personal. Did you guys have a good?

connection when you came to New York? Yeah, man, it was it was awesome to play with him. I've had the luxury of playing with, you know, quite a few, like, really good competitors, and he was, you know, he was awesome to be around, pick his brain, talk to him about, you know, everything that he's gone through in his career and, you know, you know, how he's able to, he went from a power guy to, you know, being able to do what he did at the end of his career with, you know, manipulating both sides of the play using that cutter and stuff like that. So it was really awesome to be with him, you know, that half of that year to, you mean, heck, I saw him pitch my, it feels like my whole life.

I told him that when I got to him, I was like, man, I thought I've seen you pitch since I was like four years old. But it was a little older than that when he came up with Cleveland. But it was definitely, you know, when you get to play with guys like that, it's like one of those things where you feel like you've made it. And then also, for me, growing up, I was a Yankees fan. I got to put it on the bench. in Yankee Stadium.

I was like, man, I finally made it to a big league. That's what it felt like. I was going to ask you about that because thank you. A lot of guys come over and say that. You know, I grew up a Yankees fan and I always wonder how much is bullshit and fan service and how much is real.

But I mean, your dad grew up, your dad was a Yankee fan while you were growing up. Is that the history there? Yeah. Yeah, so I remember like in the 90s when it was all going down, you know, when the court four and everybody was doing their thing. I was a huge, huge Yankees fan.

And I was like 10 to 12 to 13 years old. So I got to go play in the Little League World Series. And it was just kind of one of those things where there were always on TV. And you love them. You love Jeter. Like, you know, the guy that played the game did everything the right way. And it's just like you watch. I remember watching Clemens and Petit and Mucina and all those guys just go after it.

And then, you know, you had the best closure of all time. watching him play. So it's like you were a little spoiled. And I was like, man, this, this would be this. If I ever, I want to make the big, I want to be there. I want to play, you know, I want to be on on that stage or I want to play with those guys. You know, you didn't get a chance because, you know, most of them were retired. But that was what you always thought. Like, if I ever make the big week, I want to be them. And then to be able to put on the same uniform as in was awesome. Yeah. I mean, that's, okay, not bullshit. I love it. Yeah. I know you can't see a, but that just made us so happy because we can hold that over Trevor Ploof's head for a little while.

So thank you so much. I want to ask you a question about another guy you were teammates at a certain point. I mentioned you were an Ole Miss Rebel. I'm not sure how proud you are there if you want to talk some Lane Kiff, and we can go there in a little bit. But you were teammates with- I'm going to see that, Joe. Yeah, I think we all are.

I'm a USC guy. I had experience with Olayne and it wasn't always good. Yeah, we're hoping that Lane's revolved over his time being at Alabama and his last job as the head coach. So I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to the table. He brings a different fire that's been down there in the last couple years, that's for sure. It's going to be fun. The Ole Miss State game with Leach, I mean, it's going to be crazy in that part of the SEC.

But I was going to ask you about you were teammates with Zach. Cozer down at Ole Miss. And I was going through some of your numbers and you, you owned him pretty good. 51 at bats, nine hits a 176 batting average. He does have three homers off of you. Did you feed him those three homers to like kind of cool things off a little bit? If I'm not mistaken, I think I gave him the first three at home. Oh, wow. Yeah. So I gave him this first time we faced, he got me. and then from then on it was like I'm going to punch you out like let's get this over with and then but he does it such a good job of putting a ball and play he was like well but he got me three times so he can have that but I'll say you know I'll take that what you say 150 something I'll

take that I'd rather I'd rather have the three homers in 150 than hit 3 30 with a bunch of doyks yeah he's not three homers he's not bragging about anything else versus you besides those three home which actually no player has more than three versus you I didn't see that's surprising. I feel like I've given up some owners in my day. No, I was looking at your stats versus hitters and all that. And there's a guy on here who seemingly gets hits off everyone, DJ LaMayhew, and you just absolutely own him.

I mean, one hit and 20 played appearances. That's cool. Yeah, that's a good guy to, because he gets base hit. He puts a barrel on the ball and has a, you know, a good. approach to all sides of the field. So to be able to give him trouble is a good feeling, that's for sure. Jake, Jake and I have been rewatching a ton of old World Series games and moments during this period of no baseball and just kind of reliving them. We just recently watched game six from the 2011 World Series, which I think is regarded as one of the better baseball games ever, well,

you know, top up there. What was, I know you played, you were, you pitched in that game, and then had a great view of the ending. One of my worst endings in my life, I think. I think it's back-to-back homers. Back-to-back homers. Here's the World Series in like the seventh or eighth inning. Good job, rookie. Thanks for blowing the World Series for us.

That's what it felt like. We end up coming back and win the game. I showed up the next night through the eighth and win three up three down. But no, man, that was your rookie year being able to be in a World Series with all the veterans and play with guys like Albert Poolehost. I mean, I can go on and on with all that. But game six, I'm sitting in a locker room after giving up to just absolute. Nelson Cruz took me big Mackland, like way deep to left.

And I was like, dude, that was so far. And I just ruined the World Series. We were tied. Now we're down, whatever. And then next thing you know, we come back. They go ahead again and we come back and we went. It's like it was the craziest moment in the, like in my playing career.

And then next thing you know, it's like, what just happened? And I'm like, oh, yeah, you got a game tomorrow night. And I'm like, Steve, what in the world? I got to try to go to sleep after that. I thought I ruined the world. And then now we won and I got to get ready to go. And then next day, Tony's like, hey, you're in there tonight. I'm like, dude, did you not see the monster homer I gave up last night?

What are you doing? And he put me back in there. I think I faced, I remember I felt like I was in the middle of the lineup. He put me right back in there. We did it and we end up winning the whole thing. And it was crazy. That's for sure. Yeah, it looks like you faced Hamilton, Young, and Beltray in game seven.

I gave a homeowner of Belter in the night before, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What are we doing now? What are we doing here? So I'm back in there and see if we have better luck. No way to game twice in a row, two-night-to-row. Well, it worked out. How does game seven feel?

Like, you know, obviously not a lot of people who have that experience. I never even got to play in a damn playoff game, which is horrible. But, you know, are you at that point, game seven, are you accustomed to kind of the nerves or just the, like how big that game is or is it something completely different? Because game seven, you know, it doesn't always get there. And like I said, like, this is something that not many people experience in their lives. Was it a new experience or were at that time where you kind of already in the postseason mode? I think you're in the postseason mode.

by that time, it's like, well, hell, man, it's game seven. We got nothing to lose. We might as well just let it all hang out tonight. And then that's kind of like the motto we went with it. It's like, hey, we just had the greatest comeback ever the night before. Like, we got these guys by the ball off almost. So let's just go out. We hit them early.

And then we just kind of, we just keep attacking them. And then as next thing you know, it was like the game kind of went. It felt like it went, like when you look back on it, it, it probably didn't. But for me, it felt like the game went smooth. And I was like, dude, I'm going to get in this. thing let's do this and it's like I can't do worse than last night well hopefully not anyway so let's like just let it all hang out and that's what I did and it was just like the next thing you know I'm I was 23 24 years old and I was like dude you love going back to

remember it but it was all such a blur because I felt like the veterans kept me so locked in and didn't let the moment get too big for me I mean especially when you're pitching out of the bullpen and I've never really pitched out of the bullpen in my life they kept me locked in down there and they kept me going and didn't let me overthink anything or didn't let me think about anything except who I got to face that any and what do I have to get done to help the team win and next thing you know it worked out did you like do you like that path going starting from the bullpen like the cardinals did it a lot you know bringing you up and being a reliever and then the next year you go back to starting do you think there's like lessons to be learned from spending time

in the bullpen at a young age like that or do you wish you just starter to starter well i mean everyone says starting uh starting's the best gig in baseball you only have to work one out of five days and you get paid the most so i was like no i don't want to relieve uh that sounds way better and then but when you get when you get called up you're like you just want to do anything you can to not get sent back down so i was like i'll do whatever and then the next thing you know is like tony and and duncan they really liked what i to do out of them my velocity could get up to where it needed to be i I could strike guys out. They had it in their mind that eventually I was going to be a closer. And I was like, you know, I've never really done that. But there's nothing better than like finishing the game you started. But what about finishing the game every other night or every night? I was like, that kind of sounds cool.

And then next thing, you know, the next year was like, hey, we need you to start. When I came into camp, I thought I was going to be a late innings reliever. And then Chris Carpenter came in with, I think, the thoracic outlet that year or something going on. and then they're like, hey, you're going to start. So it kind of just happened and fell in place. But for me, it was like, whatever I have to do to be in the big leagues, I'm going to go get as many outs as I can for how long I can, no matter what spot on it.

So that was kind of my mindset. And then everything else kind of took care of itself. And that's kind of, you try to do other things to force the issue. I think things kind of blow up on you, and that was my mindset. Go get as many outs when they tell you and they give you the ball. And then we'll find a spot to pitch you as long as you're getting out. And that's, I feel as a baseball fan, it would have been. been nice to see you closing out games and scream and sit down,

motherfucker. But the starting pitching thing is working out. So, so that's fine. There might be a second. There might be a second act. I've already talked to Texas about this. I go,

I'm planning on starting until like 36, 37 and maybe close until I'm like 42. There's some, there's some talk to it. We've been talking about it. There you go. Yeah. I love it. After that,

I mean, you start 30 games a season, basically, besides the Tommy John 2016. So what was it like when you get traded to the Yankees in 2018 And they're saying hey we might use you in long relief I know it didn't last long But was that something you were like what the what the hell or just happy to be on a team that's going to the postseason? Was there any hiccups there?

Well for me I mean the initial Factor of being traded that was the first time ever said it's like okay Where am I going and if you're going to Yankees I was like awesome I got to play for the Yankees you know that was like a dream come true and then it was like shit i got to shave my face that's going to look terrible and then it's like and then it goes to the fact that it's like all right and then i talked to uh cass and uh booney and everybody and they're like hey we got some ideas like we know we you know they i guess they did some homework on me and they knew that hey this dude just wants to win so if you put him in a situation where he you know where he's got a chance

to help the team win he's going to do it he's not going to care about what it is and how you're going to do it. And so they were like, hey, you know, we got some ideas. Nothing set in stone. You are going to start some games, but we're also going to need you to help lengthen the bullpen a little bit from time to time. And they're like, so we have no true plan, but we know that you're going to do both. We just don't know how it's going to go down.

And then the first day I showed up, they're like, hey, go give the score out of the bullpen to save the bullpen that day. I was like, well, it's my start day anyways, we're good. And then next thing I know I'm starting, and I started from then on out. So, you know, it was like one of the things where Doni is like, we want you to help, and we think that you can help in multiple different ways because of the way that you attack things. So when I'm worried about you, you know, not being able to, you know, relieve or start or whatever. So it kind of just worked itself out, and that's what they told me from a year ago.

They're like, you are going to start games. We just don't know when and where and all that. But we also need you because we know you can throw out of the bullpen. We know you can throw in high leverage situations if that was a need also. Yeah, I think at that point, you know, your first time out of the pen, those first four innings, if they were anything good, you were getting sunny spot, that's just kind of where that season was at that point. And then you do what you did in Chicago. I think it was seven innings shut out ball with nine or ten strikeouts. So then you started the rest of the season. That was a lot of fun. I enjoyed watching you pitch. I mean, like I said, just constantly yell. My favorite Lance was one time you struck a dude out.

and then you just said calmly to yourself and now right down the middle got them that sounds like something I'd say I probably I probably went to like 02-1-2-2-2-2-2-3-2 trying to be cute and then I just said all right here it is they're right down the middle I was fine I'm like what were you doing just from the get-go you kind of just shrugged another story from your time with the Yankees was Cici told a story that on this podcast that on your off days, you would wear as many layers as you could during summer, always in the hoodie.

So by the time you took the mound and the heat, you were well adapted. Is that true? Is that like a one-time thing? Or is this a strategy you take with you? We're going to Texas. How to shit there? Every day.

Wasn't starting in Texas. I had a hoodie on and a long-sleevee shirt. I had a little, the hoodie was cut three-quarters, but a hoodie was on a long-sleefe shirt. That's every day, whether it's VP, whether it's game, whatever. The only time that I don't have that on is when I go Jersey with a three-quarter cut shirt, and it's game day.

So that's when I know it's game day, and then when you're out there and it starts getting a little hot or whatever, things start speeding up, you're like, man, I can actually feel a breeze. It's nice out here, and then you're good to go. I love that. I love that. It's genius because Texas is the hot, I mean, it's like the hottest place to play in the big leagues. Like they literally have many more.

Oh yeah, not even more It could be nice now Yeah, they literally have guys set up with IVs after the game When you're visiting player Like half the team is going to get an IV after these games It's just so hot you lose so much of your liquid That you got to do it But that's a genius that's genius

I mean, it makes a lot of sense I started in St. Louis Long time ago It was yeah, so it gets muggy in St. Louis in the summer So it's one of those things where it just kind of evolved Where I was like, man, I'm going to just Do one of these things where it's like If you're miserable every day when you're out there without all these layers on,

you're going to be happy and you're going to feel good. So just go do that. And that was kind of my, to get over the heat. Because early on in St. Louis, man, if I had a day game when it was like 98 with 100% humidity, I was so miserable. And I was like, what can I do to change it? And I was like, I find that if I'm miserable every day, then nothing will bother me. But that was my thought.

I love it. That's so beautiful. That's so beautiful. Lance, I kind of, this is a little open-ended, but we're, we talk baseball, but we like, we like to keep it silly and have fun as you're seeing a little bit. What do the people need to know about Lance Lynn outside of baseball? We talked hunting a little bit. Are you a movie guy? Are you a cooking guy?

Like, what, what are you into? No, it's like, the funny thing is, is that I give, like, post-game interviews and all that. Everyone thinks, it's like, man, this guy is the biggest dickhead that there is. in the world. And I kind of like it. I kind of like for him to feel that way because when you're out having dinner with your family, like, don't talk to him. He's a dickhead. And I'm like, cool, thank you. Keep on moving. I'm having dinner. I appreciate it. But I'm not like that at all. It's like it's one of those things where sometimes when it comes to, you know, after a game or this and that, I don't like to give too much because as, you know, like other teams and this and that,

they don't, they don't even know what I'm trying to do. And they're not going to try to tell me what they're trying to do. So I'm not trying to give away my secrets and this and that. So it's easy. After every post game, my team did really good, or if we went, my teammates take care of me. If we lost, it was most likely my fault. I gave up too many runs, so I leave it at that. It's that simple. But, I mean, I'm pretty easy going, laid back. I like that fun. You know, I hunt. Fish a little bit. First time really fishing in my life. I'm enjoying it. I can cook a little bit, especially when it involves a grill. And I enjoy grilling out. And I'm your typical, like, big, hairy American meat potatoes.

I like to hang out my friends, drink a few beers, watching football. You know, it's pretty obvious, the things that I like. I'm just nicer than people think I am. So that's about it. I think we should be friends, Lance. I like all those things that you just said. Like, I'm going to come over, bro. Yeah, I'm flying out.

Yeah. Everyone's welcome, man. We got both of them. We got a little bit of everything. We can, we can house 14 at the 100. running cabins. We got to dock. We got it all. Speaking of friends, I got to ask you, because I think it's as interesting. You play for a few different teams now. Who's been like your favorite teammate? Like starting pitchers, they get

a lot of time on the bench, a lot of time to talk. Later in my career, I spent a lot of time on the bench, got a lot of time to talk. Who was like your guy? Who's been your guy? I've had multiple. So that's one of the hardest questions I've ever had. And most of them are from my St. Louis days when you're learning the game and you're, you know, you're trying to, you know, make yourself as best as you can be. And, you know, you have a young kid. Everyone wants to, like, help you, but they also, like, let you find your path a little bit. I got, I got lucky in St. Louis. When I first came up, you had Chris Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, Adam Wainwright, and Kyle Loche in the starting rotation. And you, and again,

a guy like Tommy Garcia, who works harder than any person I've ever seen. So I have ruled, like, a lot of guys that I could look up to. And then John Lackey came over who has a very similar personality to me in some ways where, you know, you see him on the mound. He's very, you know, very aggressive or very, you know, demonstrative or whatever you might say. But he is one of the nicest dudes and takes care of every teammate that he can. And so I got, I mean, I can't even pick one.

That's just the start of it. And I got to be with C.C. And then now I'm getting a little older. I'm getting with guys that are, you know, my age that are awesome to be around. in Minnesota I had great times with Jay Coder Rizzi and Kyle Gibson who are great dudes. So I've been, I've been very blessed with, you know, groups that I've had

in starting pitcher-wise. And then you look at, you know, where we're at in Texas now with minor, Gibby, Klobber. We've got to get Kluber talk a little bit more. We're working on that. And then, and then, and then, Wiles, we're going to be a good group. Hopefully we can get back to playing as much baseball as we can this year because I'm really looking forward to being with those four.

So, I mean, when it comes down to it, though, man, Jake Westbrook is, is, is, is, is, is, is a good dude. Yeah, you have, yeah, Carpenter, Westbrook and John Lackey. And, and I, and I feel like, I feel like that's a, I'm, I'm, I'm fighting, Wayne Wright and Loche. And then you got to see, I mean, that's a tough one. I mean, I can't even give you a top five. That's fine. That's fine. That's fine.

I love that because you do have a lot of time to talk and you, you guys, you know, a lot of friends. Oh, yeah. And especially when you start playing golf and then having a few beers, like you seem to hit it off of a lot of people. So it's a good, you know, it's good fraternity there and starting a rotation. Like you got four out of five days where you can always find a fortune and you can always have someone to go have a beer with after a game and have a little dinner. Yeah.

Will you tell Kluber that I say hello because I played against him a ton, faced him a ton. And I would try to say hi to him all the time. Yeah. I didn't really get much out of them. Well, well, well. It's like a thing for me. You, you owned him, Treb.

So he probably thought you were being like a jerk about it. I didn't really own him. The numbers are a little skewed. Like, I hit some homers off him, but I mean, he struck me out a ton. Like, he's one of those guys. Like, I could easily strike out three times against him and just be like, okay, whatever, it's just Cory Kluber on the mound. Not a big deal.

Right. No, Cluber, Cluber's a, he's got a little bit more in there than people think. and it's uh i got i was starting to i was starting to pull that out a little bit i had to make some jokes and for him to get him to open up a little bit he's like i'd never say that i dropped he dropped he there's something going on in spring training this year where he was uh they were like hey corey is it okay he had to be he was like is it okay if i do this like i go cori you get too side lungs you can do whatever the fuck you want and if he goes and he goes i will never say that and i go he goes i'll never use that and i go that's why i think that you're awesome

but i will use it for you every chance i get and that's what i said to And then he just started like, he finally opened up a little bit. I was like, we're going to have fun, man. It's going to be, we got a good group, so we're looking forward to it. Yeah, that's funny. Cluebot, I mean, you think it's just the on the field one, but then you hear stories and it's constantly like, no, that's who he is. It just kind of, he's got a little bit in there.

We got him on the golf course. He opens up a little bit. He hides it, he hides it better than I do. Like, I just come off as a dick egg. He actually, like, just comes off to someone he doesn't talk. So he does it a little better. I guess people might just think that he's just shy. I come off as the mean one, so it's all good.

I'm thinking about that rotation now, and it's like kind of my nightmare. Like backdoor two seamers from hell. We got you doing that. We got Klobber doing that. We got Ghibi doing that. I mean, that's disgusting. That's my least favorite pitch in the game is like how you guys X the corners and you'll throw that cutter and then all of a sudden, so you lay off that,

then you throw the two seamer that runs back. Then you got the four sceneer up top. Like that's probably why I'm not playing. anymore is people starting to do that. And you guys just have a rotation full of guys that can. And I can just see, like, all of you getting together and even getting better. And I'm starting to think about the Texas Rangers now. You got that we got a starting five for you and everybody likes to compete.

So that's what it's all about. And if you got five starters that go out there and try to compete every day, as you know, as a hitter, if you got, if you know you got five guys that are doing everything in they can to win a ball game that day, it gives you that extra little bit. okay, we've got to trip away. We don't have to try to do too much. And they think, give us four or five, you know, or three to four, you've got a chance to win ballgames every day.

And that's how you, that's how you string stuff together over a season. At the end of the last year, Lance, like, there was a lot of rumors that for you on the trade deadline and minor and a lot of, a lot of Rangers players that I thought that there was going to be some moves to be made. I didn't put together the new stadium and wanting to compete right away and all that. How was it for you guys? Did they tell you right away, like, hey, you're all here? Did you worry?

Did you, was anyone, like, nervous? Because, I mean, Minor was in, like, every trade room. Yeah, I'd say, well, Mike was, he was the one that was mentioned the most. And Mike said, like, his family, he's got a, he loves his family and all that. I think that's the one that he kind of, the one the most, like, he loved it there. He loves it there in Texas and all that. It was kind of one of those things where he didn't like hearing it every day, which, if you like where you're at and your family feels good and you're doing well and the team

kind of coming along. It's like, man, I kind of want to be here for this. I want to see, I want to go into the new stadium. I want to, I want to be a part of what they're doing here. And I think that was, he was the one that kind of was, it kind of got at the most because he obviously was the one that, you know, he was an all-star. He was having, you know, a great year and, you know, the way this contract stuff worked out for me on the other hand, and I had two more years left. You hear my name a little bit. But when the Rangers signed me like, hey, we want you and Mike to take us into the new ballpark and then you start hearing Mike saying you're like okay well what are they doing it's like and JD started talking to all of us and are like here here's what I got is like I'm doing my job

I got to listen to everyone and I was like I understand that and that's the game this is the way it is and I was like if you can get three to five to six prospects that can help you for the next six years you have to listen like you we've seen it how look at the raise and teams that are doing what they're doing we're getting young talent by guys that might be like doing really well for them and have in full of years, but that's how you get the best prospect back that you can get. So I was like, we understood it, but it's never fun because, you know, you got to, you get up with your family, this and that, but, you know,

it's all said, it's part of the game, and that's the way I've taken the whole thing. It's like, I've loved every situation I've been in in my career. I've been lucky with all four organizations I've played with now. I've been with a really good organization, and they've all been, you know, truthful to me, and that's all you ask for, and Davey was, you know, as truthful as he could be without, you know, with why doing his job, he's got to do his job, he's got to listen. If he just says, hey, I'm not going to trade these guys.

And then he leaves a package on the table that could bring out, bring, you know, three or four future All-Stars, then you're looking at, man, you got to, you got to turn, you know, as they say, you got to turn over every stone or something like that. But, you know, it kind of sucks with moving in, but it's also part of the gig, you know, unless you have a no trade call. And I got my juices flowing when you started talking about being

Kluber's Hightman and A, and A, just thinking about baseball this year. And this is a question I've asked a few guys because we've gotten some interesting answers, but who was the dude at Rangers camp that you guys were walking away and saying, like, more people need to know this guy's name. Is it someone like Willie Calhoun? Is it, like, do people need to just talk about Gallo more because he's a freak? Or who was kind of turning heads at Rangers camp? Well, I mean, I think Willie kind of last year put his foot,

down and was like, hey, I'm a big league here. And that was what I think they were waiting for him to do. He took a lot of steps in all aspects of his life to really lock into being the best player he can be. So a lot of guys are really looking forward to him having a full season. Like, man, this kid gets hit. There's no, like, there's no question about it. He's got juice and he, he's got one of those swings that doesn't feel long, but man,

can he put a ride into it? And then you got Joey, who all he does is when he does. he's healthy, he's hit like 30 homers, 30, 40 homers. It feels like, and he, around the league, I feel like, is until last year, he told him to him to be an all-star team, there's really not a whole lot of respect for him because when he first came up, he struck out a ton. You know, he was like, he hit 30 homers, but he struck out 100 times and, you know, whatever he did, and he has more homers than he does singles and stuff like that in his

career, which is crazy to me, never see anything like it. But those two guys are so young. you look at everything around them, we were able to put Fraser around them. You know, you have Elvis, you have Odor. You know, we need O'Dore to kind of take that next step. You know, he still hits 30 and drives in a hundred. But it's like, you look at those things, you're like, man, we got to, we got to get everybody going in the right direction and doing the things they need to do because, as you

know in this game now, there's so many different saber metrics and this and that video. And there's ways to exploit bidders every day, especially if they don't. pay attention to what pitchers are doing and how they're getting attacked and stuff like that. So a lot of these kids are really diving in and learning how to do those things and how to understand what pitchers are trying to do from. And it's going to be exciting to see, you know, the steps that they take here and will hopefully, you know, this year and on in the future. I love hearing that about Willie. I got to, I was in Rangers camp in 2018, so I got to meet some of these guys.

And Willie needed that. he needed the push in the right direction. I think he was one of those guys. He's always been a high prospect and kind of took some things for granted. And I saw the light will kind of click for him when he was in AAA and he knew like, look, I got to change some things if I want to be a big leaguer. And it's really fun to see those guys realize that and then like start pushing and pushing. And then, yeah, last year he had success at the big league level.

Unfortunately, yeah, he got hit in the face, which, He broke his jaw, right? Yeah, yeah, it was a scary, scary thing there. He actually, I guess when it came down to it, by getting hit in his face, he had the best outcome that you possibly can be. He didn't have any concussion stuff. Like, he didn't have to do too many, you know, like wiring and all that stuff. So, I mean, when you get a 95 to the face and then come out of it with about the least

of the bad case scenario as you can, like, we were very happy to hear that. for him. And I think he's back hitting and doing everything. And there's a good chance if we're able to get this going, he's going to be ready to go when we're ready to go. So that's exciting. That's great. I really root for him. Another guy I got to ask you about, because he's a buddy of mine, we're from the same area. High energy guy, you never have to tell this guy to work hard. And I'm sure you've probably seen it. Scott Heineman. How do you feel about old Scotty Heineman? Do you remember him at all? Yeah, tow walking through the clubhouse, Heineman? He loves.

Oh, my gosh. Scotty, he is, that dude's super talented. I'm anxious to see what he's going to do when he gets a chance. You know, he's a guy that, I don't know him from his past. I just hear that he's had a lot of, you know, bad injuries and had some bad luck and stuff like that. But, man, this kid, he's high energy, as you say. He's always got pepping his step. That's what I always got, like, he's always toe walking through the clubhouse.

He's got that, he's got that pop to him. Man, he's exciting. And he can play, I mean, I didn't play in first a little bit. Last thing, play all three out-foot positions. And he works. He's a worker, too. So, man, he's a good kid, that's for sure. He'll love that you said that about him.

He wants people to, like, like, like him. And, yes, he's, like, the hardest worker. You're not going to find anybody else that works harder than him. He's the man. He will say last year he had to have shoulder surgery. They were, like, they thought it was a little clean-up. And then he came into the camp and couldn't do, couldn't swing a bat. And every day I was like, hey, I was asking me if I was giving him a hard time.

Like, hey, you're going to shake some flies today. Like, are you going to get some work in out on the outfit? Because you can't hit. You might as well get better at defense or something. Just kind of messing with him, seeing what he had on the table that day. Because, you know, it is when you're hurt and you can't do anything, you feel like you're not a part of anything. Like, you're like, you're on the island. You can't do anything.

So I was like, hey, man, you're like, we're getting in the deal. Like, come on. Like, just because you hurt doesn't mean we can get better every day. And he kind of, he had that. We had some fun with it. So I enjoy it in quite a bit. That's good. That's really good to hear.

He's going to love it. I'm going to tell him to check this out. He's going to love it. You mentioned that you were in the Little League World Series. You also mentioned new teammate, Todd Frazier, Mr. Little League World Series. Have you guys traded battle scars, you know? I think you, I think Tom's River, I don't think it was his team, but I think you played against his team? Or what's your Little League of history?

Mine was terrible. We went 0 and 3. I gave up a walk-off grand slants in game one. ruined it for the whole town. My whole town, I ruined it for the whole town when I was 12 and old, never ripped it down. But no, I was giving like, yeah, he is like Mr. Little League World Series. So he was, we did play against, we had a Tom Driver team there when I was there, and we talked about it a little bit. But yeah, as you know, Frazier is like the Todd father of the Little League World Series. I don't think the Little League World Series existed before

Frazier played in it, right? No, no, no, yeah, never. I know, yeah, I was like, that's when it started, I feel like. He put it on the map. Yeah, we joked a little bit about it. Yeah, he's, but yeah, that's, I thought it was a good laugh for sure. And then I had a tough run. Tough run there, gave up a walk-off Grand Slam.

I think I went like three for seven at the plate. So that was, you know, we didn't have, we didn't have our best showing. We went 0-and-3 there as in the central region. But my town went two years later. And then so we had a pretty decent high school team with that group when my group being two years apart. And then, heck, you looked at our high school team or our town. Like, Drew Storm was, when I was senior in high school,

we were the same pitching staff. And then Tucker Barnard was an eighth grade, eighth grade shortstop, and they ended up being a catcher. So we have a decent little talent of athletes, that's for sure. That's cool. Yeah. Awesome. And then, heck, I remember Gordon, Gordon Hayward was a freshman of like a 5'11,

five-foot-10 freshman point guard when I was a senior. And then next thing I know, I came back like two years later. He's six to eight and he was a man. So I was like, dang, that kid grew a lot while I was gone. That's a nice little hotbed of baggage. That's crazy. Yeah, we had a good little run.

That's for sure. Awesome. Man, I don't, we could talk baseball with you all day, Lance. We talk anything with you all day. I don't know. If you've got anything for us, we're here for it, but otherwise we can let you go. But yeah, man, if you're playing baseball, or if you're around Yankee Stadium, we got an office there.

If you want to talk with mics, if you don't want to talk with mics, like we're down for anything, man. This was awesome. What we got? Yeah. Basically, Jake just asked you out on a date. I think that's what happened right there. Yeah, got to.

No, hey, if we ever, you know, hopefully get back to, you know, normal where we can actually travel and do some stuff when I'm wearing down playing the Yankees. I'd love to stop by and do something before again. That'd be fun. Yeah. It's awesome. Thank you, man.

we appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your quarantine time. Good luck with the hunting. And we'll catch up later. I appreciate you guys. Everybody stay safe. Thanks, Lance. Thanks, Lance.

Thank you. And that was Lance. Covered a lot of stuff. We covered his World Series trip, getting traded to the Yankees, bullpen, starting, Little League World Series, hunting. I didn't get to ask him about

if the pizza and beer thing was true. Wikipedia says that the Cardinals hired a chef to tell him to switch from pizza and beer to water and vodka. I couldn't see, I can't see your guys lower half, but I'm pretty sure

he both got boners, or all three you got boners when he talked about his time in New York and how he finally made it to the big leagues because he was playing in New York. Are you just upset that you've never had that feeling? Because almost every player that puts the pinstripes on says that. And granted, a lot of times it's fan service and bullshit, but I feel like not every player goes to the twins and gives the bullshit.

I finally made it to the big leagues. So are you just jealous, Trev? It's big market. No, it's true. It's big markets. So, like, ask anybody to play, they'll tell you, like, there are teams that are more four A than big leagues. And then there's teams like New York and teams like L.A., teams like Chicago.

Like, those are what guys will say, like, this is the big leagues. Because you can treat it differently. You can treat it better. You know, the cities are better. The food is better. Everything is better. So I get it. I just, you know, I got to, I'm the balance, man.

I'm the balance here. There's so much Yankee love, I got to balance it out. Even though sometimes I make it up, like I make my hate up for the Yankees sometimes. But I have to be that person. For you, would it be the Dodgers? Like, do you think that it would be more special for you if you put on like the Dodgers uniform than the Yankees uniform? Just growing up as a West Coast dude, L.A. guy? I don't know.

I will say this. I think that in L.A., there's just so much going. on that like if you're a dodger like unless you're you look a certain way like justin turner's going to get noticed everywhere because he's just has that look you know but in new york i feel like the athletes are you know we have the actors out here we have musicians out here whatever like it's kind of like a melting pop but in new york i mean if you're a yankee you walk on the streets people are going to know who you are and i think that's really cool and i think that's kind of like the vibe i get when people talk about like being in the big

weeks, it's like, dude, you're the king of New York if you're Yanke. So I get it. The other thing is, like, a lot of people don't realize how much the bigger teams like the Yankees and stuff, like do behind the scenes. Like, when Zach Britton got traded to the Yankees from the Orioles, he was like, I don't have to pay for daycare anymore. The Yankees provide daycare and don't make us pay for it. And he was like, that's amazing. And we were like, wait, what? The Orioles made you pay every day that you dropped your kid off? And it's like little things like that. And Mike Karky, the Yankees bullpen coach, he went to the Arizona Diamondbacks as the pitching coach for like two years.

He came back and he was like, man, like traveling is different. The hotels are different. Oh, yeah. He's like, I felt like I went back to AAA. Yeah, if you're playing for the Yankees, you were getting the best hotels. I mean, early in my career with the twins, we, we're staying in a double tree in Anaheim. You know, the Yankees stay, like the Ritz set, fashion island. Like, it's...

As major leaguers, you're staying at a double tree? Yes. So... Yeah, that's brutal. I would not expect that. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely different. That's another reason why guys say that. I mean, the food, like, I think I mentioned is the food is just going to be better. The hotel is definitely, that's a big thing.

Like, I mentioned before, like you play in Texas. Like, we stayed at like a Ramada. you know, like a six flags Ramada with the twins. And if you're playing with the Yankees, you're staying at the Ritz. So it's those things mean something. And then they, I think they help, man. They really do. You're more comfortable.

But good job. Travis says the Yankees are the best. Regrets that you never got a chance to play there. I would have raked. You know my stats against the ALES. I would have, I would have raked. I probably would have been an all-star a few times. That ALEAS is weak.

It's a weak division. Everyone knows that. Jake thoughts yeah no I mean that that Ramada in Arlington is a great place to get a lady of the night if that's what you're into but yeah it's always good to be a Yankee that's what I always say when I put on the pinstrives all right so that was Lance Lynn he's the best

that was a lot of fun root for him moving forward I would say like tweeted him and say you enjoyed it but he doesn't give a fuck No, no, don't bother. Don't bother them, yeah. Oh, I have something. And if they've gotten to this point, last I checked, we were at 996 reviews on talking baseball. So give, what do we want that thousand review push to be?

Trevor Plouffe, the Yankee, something like that. Can't we just all four of us just go on and review it ourselves right now and just like, get us two thousand? It's lame. I'd give it like four stars. Give a five-star review and put Trevor Plouf, Yankee Great. Yankee Killer. Yeah, Yankee Great. That's what I said.

OPS Plus, 115, 15% better than league average. 776 regular OPS. Nine homers. Every fucking damn part of that part. Second decker. Can you say go up top? But like when you say go up top. Thank you.