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(female announcer) 
This is a production 
of WKNO - Memphis.

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Production funding for "Sports 
Files" is made possible in part

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by..

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My guest today on "Sports Files" 
is Memphis Redbirds All-Star

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Pitcher Michael Wacha.

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♪♪♪

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It has been a pretty amazing 
run for Redbirds Pitcher Michael

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Wacha, and the best part is, 
he's just getting started.

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A mere year ago the six 
foot, six inch righthander was

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finishing up his third and final 
season at Texas A-and-M and now

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finds himself a Triple-A 
All-Star in his first season

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with the Redbirds.

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And the way Wacha has pitched, 
it may be his only season at

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Triple-A.

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The Cardinals first round pick 
in 2012 has already made his

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Major League Debut and has 
picked up his first big league

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win.

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And while Wacha would love to 
still be with the parent club,

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there's no question he feels 
he'll be back in Saint Louis

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sooner than later.

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But while he's in 
Memphis he's enjoying himself.

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He'll head out to Reno Nevada 
on Monday with fellow Redbirds

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All-Star Brock Peterson, to 
represent the P-C-L in the

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annual Mid-Summer classic.

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Today I step up to the plate and 
face one of the Cardinals top

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prospects, a young man who just 
turned the tender age of 22.

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Michael Wacha is my 
guest on "Sports Files".

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♪♪♪

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Michael thank you so 
much for being with us.

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Yeah, glad to be here.

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A year ago, you were 
pitching for Texas A-and-M.

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Low and behold now, you're a 
member of the Pacific Coast

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League All-Star team for he 
Triple-A Allstar game in your

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first year.

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You already have a Major 
League victory under your belt.

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Did you expect the 
success to come this quickly?

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You know, I definitely 
wasn't expecting it to come this

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quickly.

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I mean but you know I 
just come up to the field,

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you know, try and 
work hard everyday.

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You know and just my goal is 
just to try and make it up there

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as soon as I could.

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You know it ended up 
coming pretty quickly.

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And I was very thankful for it.

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Next week you'll be in Reno 
representing the Redbirds along

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with Brock Peterson.

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How did it feel when you 
found out that you were going to

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represent that Redbirds and the 
P-C-L in the Triple-A All-Star

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game?

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I mean it's an 
unbelievable honor.

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I mean Brock, he's 
well-deserving of it as well.

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I mean he's a heck of a hitter.

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You know and it's fun watching 
him take his at-bats up there in

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Memphis.

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But you know, yeah, I'm just 
looking forward to go out there

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to Reno.

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This will be my 
first time out there.

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And you know, I'm looking 
forward to meeting a whole new

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group of guys.

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And yeah, I think it'll 
be a good experience.

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Alright, let's take a 
step backwards to last year.

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And your at Texas A-and-M.

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You were first round 
pick of that Cardinals.

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What were your emotions 
like when you found that out?

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Oh, it's an 
unbelieveable feeling.

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I was with my family down in 
College Station with a couple

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teamates or so.

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You know whenever I 
heard my name called,

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I mean I wasn't 
expecting it at all.

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I know I was supposed to go 
in the first round sometime.

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But whenever the 
Cardinals throw out your name,

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I mean it's an 
unbelievable feeling.

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And yeah, I mean it 
was just a lot of fun.

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Being able to experience it with 
my family and friends as well.

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Who called you and 
what did they say to you?

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No body like really called me 
until after they drafted me.

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And then I think it was the 
scouting director called and was

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like, "Hey, you know, we'll 
talk more about the -- like the

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negotiations, contract 
type of stuff but you know,

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just want to say congrats on 
getting drafted by the Cardinals

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and I look forward to 
talking to you more."

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In the few times I've had a 
chance to talk with you on my

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radio here or on television, 
you seem real easy-going.

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So I wouldn't suspect 
there's any pressure,

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added pressure of being one 
of the top propects in the

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organization.

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Do you feel pretty at ease?

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Yeah, I mean I can see where 
people could get overwhelmed by

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pressure.

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But you know I just try and you 
know just not worry about the

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pressure.

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Don't worry about the hype 
or the top propects list or

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anything like that.

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You know I just try and show 
up to the field everyday to get

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better.

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And you know that's 
the way I look at it.

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Many, many moons ago 
before you were born,

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pitchers would be -- who were 
drafted or pitchers who were

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called up after a short stint in 
the minors were thrust right in

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to it in the middle of 
the major league season.

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Now it's more seasoning with 
players and especially pitchers.

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But here in your 
first year at Triple-A,

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you get the call and 
you're in Saint Louis.

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And you get your first 
start at Busch Stadium.

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What was that like?

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It was an unbelievable feeling.

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Yeah, I mean words can't really 
describe the feeling that I was

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going through.

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I mean just walking 
out on the field and,

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you know, just warming up in the 
bull pen and walking across the

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field and coming to the dug 
out and just throwing the first

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pitch out there on the mound.

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It was an unbelievable feeling.

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All my family and a lot of 
friends in the stadium watching.

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It was just a great 
feeling knowing they were there.

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You know I don't think the night 
could have gone any better.

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You know it was 
jsut a lot of fun.

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And you know I can't wait to get 
back up there and do it again.

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Yeah, you pitched 
very, very well.

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You didn't get that win but you 
pitched well enough to get the

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victory.

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Were you nervous?

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I imagine 
everybody has some nerves.

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Were you really nervous?

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There was definitely 
nerves going through me.

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I don't think you'd be human 
if you didn't have any anxiety

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going through you.

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But you know I think there was 
like an hour rain delay before

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the game started.

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And so it just 
pushed it back even more.

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I mean I was so 
anxious getting out there.

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You know just getting 
ready for the game to start.

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But you know once I 
threw the first pitch over,

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you know I just looked at 
it as another ball game,

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another game that 
I was pitching in.

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It's what I've been 
doing my whole life.

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So yeah, once I got 
that out of the way,

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the nerves went away and I was 
able to settle down a little

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bit.

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What was the fan reaction like?

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Oh, it was unbelievable.

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I never pitched in front of that 
many people or that passionate

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of a crowd.

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And you know it 
was unbelievable.

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You know they're the 
best in the business.

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It's a lot of fun playing 
in front of those guys.

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Were you getting a 
lot of, "Hey rook,

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hey rook, hey rook!", 
from your teamates?

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Oh yeah, definitely.

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Deifnitely like the 
next day and stuff.

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You know they have us doing all 
the stuff that they don't want

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to do and stuff so.

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Oh, you were getting hazed.

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Is that what you're telling me?

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Yeah, a little bit.

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I mean just running errands.

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You know bringing 
all the waters out,

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getting the baseballs.

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And if they needed coffee 
or a Red Bull or stuff.

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You know it's, "Hey 
Rook, Wacha, you know,

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go get us one in the clubhouse."

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So you know I was able to 
get a little taste of that,

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too.

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But I mean I didn't 
mind that at all.

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No, you felt like 
you were a part of it.

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Exactly.

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Part of the team!

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You felt like you belonged.

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You get your first win, your 
first major league win at your

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tender age at City Park, New 
York where the All-Star game

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will take place, the Major 
League Baseball All-Star game.

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What was that experience like?

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Oh, it was crazy.

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You know I gave up two in the 
first and stranded bases loaded.

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So I mean it was a rough first 
inning for me but I was able to

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come out there and battle 
through the next five innings.

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And you know defense just 
played a heck of a game.

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I mean it got me out of 
some crucial jams and yeah,

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it was unbelievable getting that 
first one underneath the belt.

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And hopefully 
there's more to come.

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Was it hard when you were told 
you're coming back to Memphis?

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I mean what were 
your expectations?

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I mean you know my expectations 
whenever I went up there were,

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you know, they were 
definitely to stay.

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You know that was my 
mentality going up there.

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I mean I wasn't going up 
there with a mentality,

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you know, I'm just making some 
spots and I'm coming back down.

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You know it was 
to stay up there.

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But you know I'm 
back down in Memphis.

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And you know I know I 
got stuff to work on.

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And that's what 
I'm using this for.

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I just come out here everyday 
and try to work on that stuff

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and get better and get 
back up to Saint Louis.

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So Michael, what area of 
pitching do you think you need

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to work on the most?

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Mainly probably my third 
pitch which is a curve ball.

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You know I need to be able 
to throw it more for strikes.

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And you know once 
I'll be able to do that,

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it'll open up my game 
a little bit more and,

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you know, also I need to work on 
the command of all my pitches.

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And working down in the zone.

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I mean that's 
whenever I get in trouble.

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It's whenever I leave 
some pitches up in the zone.

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That's when it really 
gets some base hits.

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And so if I'm able to work 
down some and get some more

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groundballs, I 
think it'll be alright.

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You have good velocity.

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I don't know if they would 
enable you over powering stuff.

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But how would you describe your 
pitching style to the average

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fan out there?

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00:08:31,964 --> 00:08:36,564
I'd say more of like 
the control kind of guy.

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You know I don't 
walk very many people.

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00:08:38,164 --> 00:08:40,964
I mean I pitch to contact.

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I feel like walking guys 
is just free base runners.

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And that just gives them 
the easy way to score.

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So I try and like make them 
earn their way on the bases by

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pitching to contact.

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So I guess that's 
mainly how it is.

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Are there a lot of people in 
the organization whether it be

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00:08:58,598 --> 00:09:02,831
Manager Mike Matheny when you 
were up with Saint Louis or of

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00:09:02,831 --> 00:09:04,931
course you have Pop 
Warner down here.

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And your pitching coaches 
are both Triple-A and majors.

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Did they talk to you a lot?

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00:09:09,498 --> 00:09:10,498
Do you get a lot of 
information, direction?

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00:09:10,498 --> 00:09:15,331
Do you lean on them a lot or 
do they kind of let you do your

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thing and when they 
have to talk to you,

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00:09:18,498 --> 00:09:19,898
they talk to you?

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00:09:19,898 --> 00:09:23,398
It's mainly like they 
leave you alone quite a bit.

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And you know unless they see 
something that you need to work

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on like if you're 
tipping pitches or something.

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They haven't really messed 
with me mechanically-wise,

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00:09:33,098 --> 00:09:34,364
you know, since 
I've been drafted.

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00:09:34,364 --> 00:09:38,398
But you know it's a lot of like 
situational type stuff and what

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you do in certain situations 
and how to get out of jams and

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00:09:42,064 --> 00:09:43,098
stuff.

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00:09:43,098 --> 00:09:45,631
That's mainly what 
the talks are about.

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00:09:45,631 --> 00:09:47,831
You're innings are 
being monitered.

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00:09:47,831 --> 00:09:50,864
So you're not always going 
to start that fifth day,

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00:09:50,864 --> 00:09:52,831
that fifth game.

240
00:09:52,831 --> 00:09:53,831
Is that tough?

241
00:09:53,831 --> 00:09:55,231
Is that taxing on 
you not knowing?

242
00:09:55,231 --> 00:10:01,864
Yeah, I mean it's definitely a 
different experience that I've

243
00:10:01,864 --> 00:10:03,198
never really experienced before.

244
00:10:03,198 --> 00:10:05,364
But you know I wish I was 
pitching every fifth day.

245
00:10:05,364 --> 00:10:07,431
I love being out on the mound.

246
00:10:07,431 --> 00:10:10,098
But I understand what they're 
trying to do and limit my

247
00:10:10,098 --> 00:10:12,364
innings to my first 
professional season.

248
00:10:12,364 --> 00:10:16,831
And so I guess they're 
just looking in the long run.

249
00:10:16,831 --> 00:10:19,431
But I would like to 
be out there pitching.

250
00:10:19,431 --> 00:10:22,398
But I guess I can see 
where they're coming from.

251
00:10:22,398 --> 00:10:23,564
Got your competitive juices.

252
00:10:23,564 --> 00:10:24,564
Exactly, yeah.

253
00:10:24,564 --> 00:10:27,098
But we saw what happened 
with the nationals and with

254
00:10:27,098 --> 00:10:28,098
Strasburg.

255
00:10:28,098 --> 00:10:30,064
And they had to be 
very careful with him.

256
00:10:30,064 --> 00:10:32,131
So Texas A-and-M had 
that steady start.

257
00:10:32,131 --> 00:10:33,898
You knew when you were going.

258
00:10:33,898 --> 00:10:37,331
What was the experience like 
in college at Texas A-and-M and

259
00:10:37,331 --> 00:10:41,564
then try to compare it to when 
you made your first start in the

260
00:10:41,564 --> 00:10:43,231
pros?

261
00:10:43,231 --> 00:10:44,364
A-and-M was a lot of fun.

262
00:10:44,364 --> 00:10:47,964
You know their fans remind me 
a lot of the Cardinal fans.

263
00:10:47,964 --> 00:10:51,531
I mean they fill up 
that place every game.

264
00:10:51,531 --> 00:10:52,531
Passionate.

265
00:10:52,531 --> 00:10:54,264
Yeah, very passionate, you know.

266
00:10:54,264 --> 00:10:56,298
They know the baseball as well.

267
00:10:56,298 --> 00:10:57,331
They're smart fans.

268
00:10:57,331 --> 00:11:01,698
It was a lot of fun playing in 
front of those guys and playing

269
00:11:01,698 --> 00:11:02,698
for the coaches.

270
00:11:02,698 --> 00:11:05,931
Coach Childress and Coach 
Sawyers and Coach Sealy.

271
00:11:05,931 --> 00:11:07,964
And then playing 
with those teamates.

272
00:11:07,964 --> 00:11:11,831
Those guys are going to be my 
brothers for the rest of my

273
00:11:11,831 --> 00:11:12,831
life.

274
00:11:12,831 --> 00:11:15,931
And you know I wouldn't have 
traded those years for anything.

275
00:11:15,931 --> 00:11:19,098
I was so blessed to be able to 
go play at Texas A-and-M for

276
00:11:19,098 --> 00:11:21,864
Coach Chidress giving me the 
opportunity to go play there.

277
00:11:21,864 --> 00:11:24,831
And yeah, it was a fun 
three years for sure.

278
00:11:24,831 --> 00:11:27,131
And you missed the move 
to the S-E-C by a year.

279
00:11:27,131 --> 00:11:28,131
Yeah, yeah.

280
00:11:28,131 --> 00:11:30,631
I played all of my 
three years in the Big 12,

281
00:11:30,631 --> 00:11:31,631
yeah.

282
00:11:31,631 --> 00:11:34,698
Now did you have any 
crossover at all with Manzel.

283
00:11:34,698 --> 00:11:36,431
When he played, you 
were already gone.

284
00:11:36,431 --> 00:11:37,631
But do you know Johnny?

285
00:11:37,631 --> 00:11:40,864
I met him a couple times.

286
00:11:40,864 --> 00:11:45,164
Yeah but I mean he's a heck of a 
player out there on the field.

287
00:11:45,164 --> 00:11:49,098
I wasn't able to go to a lot 
of the football games this past

288
00:11:49,098 --> 00:11:50,098
season.

289
00:11:50,098 --> 00:11:51,098
He's a heck of a player.

290
00:11:51,098 --> 00:11:53,064
I was able to go to Tuscaloosa.

291
00:11:53,064 --> 00:11:55,031
Oh, did you go to the game?

292
00:11:55,031 --> 00:11:56,431
Whenever we took down Alabama.

293
00:11:56,431 --> 00:11:58,398
But yeah, it was unbelievable, 
unbelievable off-season.

294
00:11:58,398 --> 00:12:02,331
It was a lot of fun being able 
to go back and watch him play.

295
00:12:02,331 --> 00:12:03,531
Oh, he has the off-season.

296
00:12:03,531 --> 00:12:04,531
He's out there.

297
00:12:04,531 --> 00:12:06,264
He's partying.

298
00:12:06,264 --> 00:12:08,598
He's with the 
Hollywood stars and all that.

299
00:12:08,598 --> 00:12:09,964
Alright, here you are.

300
00:12:09,964 --> 00:12:11,598
Big first round pick.

301
00:12:11,598 --> 00:12:14,698
Already got a major 
league win under your belt.

302
00:12:14,698 --> 00:12:16,098
You see yourself 
being that kind of guy?

303
00:12:16,098 --> 00:12:18,998
You out there on Beale Street 
partying and all that or are you

304
00:12:18,998 --> 00:12:21,398
just quiet and go to your back 
apartment or condo where ever

305
00:12:21,398 --> 00:12:23,764
you live and just 
keep it even keel?

306
00:12:23,764 --> 00:12:27,164
Yeah, I mean I just 
keep it pretty even keel.

307
00:12:27,164 --> 00:12:31,398
You know I mean Johnny, he's a 
young kid just trying to have a

308
00:12:31,398 --> 00:12:32,764
good time really, ya know?

309
00:12:32,764 --> 00:12:36,498
He's trying to live it up and I 
can see where he's coming from.

310
00:12:36,498 --> 00:12:40,298
But yeah, I mean after games, I 
just go back to my apartment and

311
00:12:40,298 --> 00:12:42,764
hang out for a while, you 
know, go grab something to eat.

312
00:12:42,764 --> 00:12:43,764
Yeah.

313
00:12:43,764 --> 00:12:44,764
But you've got to 
have a little fun,

314
00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:45,764
too.

315
00:12:45,764 --> 00:12:46,764
You're a young guy 
just like him -- rihgt?

316
00:12:46,764 --> 00:12:47,764
I mean yeah.

317
00:12:47,764 --> 00:12:49,698
I mean I have some 
fun every now and then.

318
00:12:49,698 --> 00:12:51,931
But I mean he's 
in the off-season.

319
00:12:51,931 --> 00:12:53,798
I'm sure he's not doing 
that during the season.

320
00:12:53,798 --> 00:12:58,731
But yeah, I mean, 
he's a heck of a player.

321
00:12:58,731 --> 00:13:01,131
And I mean he can have 
a little fun I guess.

322
00:13:01,131 --> 00:13:03,098
Well Michael, what's it 
like here in Memphis?

323
00:13:03,098 --> 00:13:05,331
We know there's a lot of 
Cardinals fans so there's

324
00:13:05,331 --> 00:13:08,198
obviously Redbirds fans playing 
in this beautiful Autozone Park.

325
00:13:08,198 --> 00:13:09,198
What's it been like for ya?

326
00:13:09,198 --> 00:13:13,031
I mean there's a lot of 
Cardinals fans that live in

327
00:13:13,031 --> 00:13:14,031
Memphis.

328
00:13:14,031 --> 00:13:15,031
So they come out and 
they know who everyone is.

329
00:13:15,031 --> 00:13:20,331
They understand who these minor 
league players are that can go

330
00:13:20,331 --> 00:13:23,264
up and play and fill in in 
Saint Louis at any time.

331
00:13:23,264 --> 00:13:26,331
So they're very 
knowlegable here as well.

332
00:13:26,331 --> 00:13:29,264
You know it's a lot of fun 
playing in such a nice ballpark

333
00:13:29,264 --> 00:13:32,531
here in Memphis and playing 
in front of these fans here.

334
00:13:32,531 --> 00:13:33,531
How do you stay, Michael?

335
00:13:33,531 --> 00:13:34,531
How do you stay patient?

336
00:13:34,531 --> 00:13:35,964
Beucase you've tasted it.

337
00:13:35,964 --> 00:13:37,764
You know what 
it's like up there.

338
00:13:37,764 --> 00:13:40,698
The way professional 
athletes are catered.

339
00:13:40,698 --> 00:13:43,731
It's not too shabby a Triple-A 
but it's a whole different level

340
00:13:43,731 --> 00:13:44,731
as you know.

341
00:13:44,731 --> 00:13:47,298
How do you stay even keel 
patient knowing that your time

342
00:13:47,298 --> 00:13:48,398
will come again?

343
00:13:48,398 --> 00:13:53,364
Yeah, I mean it's tough 
trying to keep that patience.

344
00:13:53,364 --> 00:13:56,464
But you know you just 
got to come to the field.

345
00:13:56,464 --> 00:13:58,098
And you just got 
to tell yourself,

346
00:13:58,098 --> 00:13:59,864
you know, you got 
stuff to work on.

347
00:13:59,864 --> 00:14:03,164
You know it's tough to go up 
there and stay -- stay in the

348
00:14:03,164 --> 00:14:04,164
big leagues.

349
00:14:04,164 --> 00:14:06,664
And so you just got to prepare 
yourself down here for whenever

350
00:14:06,664 --> 00:14:10,631
you do called up again, that 
maybe you can stay up there the

351
00:14:10,631 --> 00:14:11,631
next time.

352
00:14:11,631 --> 00:14:13,831
You know I've talked to some 
guys that have been called up

353
00:14:13,831 --> 00:14:15,464
and sent back down.

354
00:14:15,464 --> 00:14:17,198
You know what 
I've got to work on.

355
00:14:17,198 --> 00:14:19,898
Like I talked to Rob 
Johnson all the time about it.

356
00:14:19,898 --> 00:14:23,898
And he's a great guy to have on 
the team who's kind of a mentor

357
00:14:23,898 --> 00:14:25,231
to all of us young guys.

358
00:14:25,231 --> 00:14:28,864
And yeah, so it's good 
talking to him about it.

359
00:14:28,864 --> 00:14:32,498
Yeah, let me ask you about the 
pitcher-catcher relationship.

360
00:14:32,498 --> 00:14:35,064
You know we hear an awful lot 
about how important it is that

361
00:14:35,064 --> 00:14:37,598
the catcher calling the 
game for the pitcher.

362
00:14:37,598 --> 00:14:41,631
But is it comprable to a 
golfer-caddy relationship?

363
00:14:41,631 --> 00:14:45,731
Is it maybe even tighter 
where you really are completely

364
00:14:45,731 --> 00:14:48,898
dependant on that catcher or is 
it more exaggerated a little but

365
00:14:48,898 --> 00:14:51,564
and maybe it's not as pivotal?

366
00:14:51,564 --> 00:14:56,598
I mean I wouldn't say we're 
totally like reliant on them.

367
00:14:56,598 --> 00:15:00,298
But I trust in Rob and whenever 
I was up in Saint Louis,

368
00:15:00,298 --> 00:15:02,131
I definitely trusted in Yadi.

369
00:15:02,131 --> 00:15:07,964
And what they're putting down in 
that I have to have the mindset

370
00:15:07,964 --> 00:15:09,398
that this is the right pitch.

371
00:15:09,398 --> 00:15:13,164
But I absolutely trust this guy 
because I mean if I go up there,

372
00:15:13,164 --> 00:15:15,998
I'm like, "Ah, I don't really 
feel like throwing this pitch

373
00:15:15,998 --> 00:15:16,998
that he just put down."

374
00:15:16,998 --> 00:15:18,998
And that balls going to get hit.

375
00:15:18,998 --> 00:15:20,931
You know I'm not 
throwing it wtih conviction.

376
00:15:20,931 --> 00:15:23,198
And so you know you got 
to have complete trust.

377
00:15:23,198 --> 00:15:27,164
And we talk all the time, going 
over scout reports on these

378
00:15:27,164 --> 00:15:28,164
guys.

379
00:15:28,164 --> 00:15:31,664
And yeah, so the main thing 
is just having trust in them.

380
00:15:31,664 --> 00:15:35,564
I mean it's a really close 
relationship for sure though.

381
00:15:35,564 --> 00:15:37,598
Do they get upset if 
you shake them off?

382
00:15:37,598 --> 00:15:38,598
No, not at all.

383
00:15:38,598 --> 00:15:42,398
I mean they're putting down 
what they think is right.

384
00:15:42,398 --> 00:15:45,631
But I mean there can be two 
pitches that could work in any

385
00:15:45,631 --> 00:15:46,631
count.

386
00:15:46,631 --> 00:15:47,631
Sure.

387
00:15:47,631 --> 00:15:48,631
Really so.

388
00:15:48,631 --> 00:15:49,631
Yeah they don't really get upset 
unless they get a home run after

389
00:15:49,631 --> 00:15:50,631
you.

390
00:15:50,631 --> 00:15:52,331
Then they see you 
going like this.

391
00:15:52,331 --> 00:15:54,864
You shouldn't have shook me off!

392
00:15:54,864 --> 00:15:56,098
Yeah, you're right.

393
00:15:56,098 --> 00:16:01,964
Do you see in Triple-A, do 
you look at a lot of tape on

394
00:16:01,964 --> 00:16:05,164
opponents and when you're up 
in Saint Louis for that stint.

395
00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:07,664
Did you look at tape of the 
opponents you were about to

396
00:16:07,664 --> 00:16:08,664
face?

397
00:16:08,664 --> 00:16:10,364
Not a lot down here in Memphis 
but definitely when I was in

398
00:16:10,364 --> 00:16:11,898
Saint Louis.

399
00:16:11,898 --> 00:16:15,331
They have a video 
room where those guys.

400
00:16:15,331 --> 00:16:17,531
I mean it's an 
unbelievable set-up up there.

401
00:16:17,531 --> 00:16:21,031
They just give you a line-up, 
the line-up for that day.

402
00:16:21,031 --> 00:16:23,198
And you go on the 
computer, it's already on there.

403
00:16:23,198 --> 00:16:26,198
They have clips from probably 
about a hundred at-bats of every

404
00:16:26,198 --> 00:16:27,364
single batter on the line up.

405
00:16:27,364 --> 00:16:28,364
Wow!

406
00:16:28,364 --> 00:16:31,198
Yeah, so you can see like 
whatever they're doing.

407
00:16:31,198 --> 00:16:32,631
It's pretty unbelievable.

408
00:16:32,631 --> 00:16:34,998
Can you overthink though?

409
00:16:34,998 --> 00:16:35,998
Watch too much?

410
00:16:35,998 --> 00:16:37,731
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

411
00:16:37,731 --> 00:16:38,731
Definitely.

412
00:16:38,731 --> 00:16:39,731
You can definitely overthink.

413
00:16:39,731 --> 00:16:41,564
I mean I didn't pay attention.

414
00:16:41,564 --> 00:16:43,398
Like I didn't watch 
all hundred clips.

415
00:16:43,398 --> 00:16:47,098
I watched a few of each guy.

416
00:16:47,098 --> 00:16:48,698
See what their 
swings kind of look like.

417
00:16:48,698 --> 00:16:52,531
I mean this is probably my first 
time facing all those hitters.

418
00:16:52,531 --> 00:16:55,931
But I mean I just had to 
really trust in Yadi because,

419
00:16:55,931 --> 00:16:58,898
I mean, he had seen 
all of those guys.

420
00:16:58,898 --> 00:17:03,631
And he knew what kind of 
sequences he wanted to go with

421
00:17:03,631 --> 00:17:04,631
those guys.

422
00:17:04,631 --> 00:17:05,631
So..

423
00:17:05,631 --> 00:17:07,398
Did you get the baseball by the 
way from your first big league

424
00:17:07,398 --> 00:17:08,398
hit?

425
00:17:08,398 --> 00:17:09,964
Yep, I got the 
first big league hit.

426
00:17:09,964 --> 00:17:12,798
I got the first win and 
the first strike out.

427
00:17:12,798 --> 00:17:14,164
You got all of them?

428
00:17:14,164 --> 00:17:15,164
All the balls?

429
00:17:15,164 --> 00:17:17,431
I was going to say 
all the golf balls.

430
00:17:17,431 --> 00:17:18,431
All the baseballs.

431
00:17:18,431 --> 00:17:19,431
And where they at?

432
00:17:19,431 --> 00:17:22,231
I gave them to my dad 
just the other day.

433
00:17:22,231 --> 00:17:23,431
So they're back in the house.

434
00:17:23,431 --> 00:17:24,964
Better believe they're proud!

435
00:17:24,964 --> 00:17:25,964
oh yeah.

436
00:17:25,964 --> 00:17:26,964
Your familys proud.

437
00:17:26,964 --> 00:17:31,631
Alright, five 
years from now, 2018,

438
00:17:31,631 --> 00:17:34,198
what are we saying 
about Michael Wacha?

439
00:17:34,198 --> 00:17:35,464
Oh man!

440
00:17:35,464 --> 00:17:40,264
Hopefully I've been in the big 
leagues for a little while and

441
00:17:40,264 --> 00:17:43,364
you know just that I'm a 
competitor out there on the

442
00:17:43,364 --> 00:17:44,364
mound.

443
00:17:44,364 --> 00:17:47,198
You know he's going to go out 
there and you know give it his

444
00:17:47,198 --> 00:17:49,731
all and give this team 
the best chance to win.

445
00:17:49,731 --> 00:17:53,431
And you know hopefully 
that's what they're saying.

446
00:17:53,431 --> 00:17:57,131
We are literally on hot seats 
but you are off the hot seat.

447
00:17:57,131 --> 00:17:59,131
But we're not done with the 
interview yet because I like to

448
00:17:59,131 --> 00:18:01,731
end all my interviews with 
something called 'Five for the

449
00:18:01,731 --> 00:18:02,731
Road'.

450
00:18:02,731 --> 00:18:04,964
So the fans out there, our 
viewers can learn a little bit

451
00:18:04,964 --> 00:18:06,031
more about my guest.

452
00:18:06,031 --> 00:18:08,431
So quick answers 
to these questions.

453
00:18:08,431 --> 00:18:11,831
Number one -- What is your 
favorite professional team in

454
00:18:11,831 --> 00:18:12,831
any sport?

455
00:18:12,831 --> 00:18:14,331
You can't say the 
Saint Louis Cardinals.

456
00:18:14,331 --> 00:18:15,364
Green bay Packers.

457
00:18:15,364 --> 00:18:16,364
The Packers?

458
00:18:16,364 --> 00:18:17,364
Yep.

459
00:18:17,364 --> 00:18:18,364
You're a Texas guy!

460
00:18:18,364 --> 00:18:19,364
I know.

461
00:18:19,364 --> 00:18:21,831
You're shunning your Cowboys?

462
00:18:21,831 --> 00:18:22,831
Never!

463
00:18:22,831 --> 00:18:25,031
Never a Cowboys fan!

464
00:18:25,031 --> 00:18:27,831
Family grew up in the Mid-West 
and they were all Packers fans

465
00:18:27,831 --> 00:18:28,831
growing up.

466
00:18:28,831 --> 00:18:33,331
So I kind of all the children 
now are all Packer fans.

467
00:18:33,331 --> 00:18:34,331
Wow, Packers!

468
00:18:34,331 --> 00:18:37,231
Okay, your favorite professional 
athlete of all time?

469
00:18:37,231 --> 00:18:38,698
Uh, all time?

470
00:18:38,698 --> 00:18:40,731
I'd say Aaron Rogers.

471
00:18:40,731 --> 00:18:41,731
Aaron Rogers?

472
00:18:41,731 --> 00:18:42,831
Yeah, I like 
watching him play, yeah.

473
00:18:42,831 --> 00:18:45,698
How about if it was 
a baseball player,

474
00:18:45,698 --> 00:18:47,131
who would it be?

475
00:18:47,131 --> 00:18:48,131
Derek Jeter.

476
00:18:48,131 --> 00:18:50,064
Favorite music, musician, band?

477
00:18:50,064 --> 00:18:51,731
What do you like to listen to?

478
00:18:51,731 --> 00:18:54,731
Ah, I like some country music.

479
00:18:54,731 --> 00:18:56,431
A little Randy Rogers Band.

480
00:18:56,431 --> 00:18:57,431
Okay.

481
00:18:57,431 --> 00:18:58,631
Are they more local?

482
00:18:58,631 --> 00:19:00,964
It's a little Texas-country.

483
00:19:00,964 --> 00:19:02,164
Yeah, yeah.

484
00:19:02,164 --> 00:19:04,331
Um, favorite movie of all time?

485
00:19:04,331 --> 00:19:06,864
"Field of Dreams."

486
00:19:06,864 --> 00:19:08,998
Do ya cry?

487
00:19:08,998 --> 00:19:11,098
I have before, I have before.

488
00:19:11,098 --> 00:19:12,098
Yeah.

489
00:19:12,098 --> 00:19:13,098
Dad, do you want 
to have a catch?

490
00:19:13,098 --> 00:19:15,598
Had a little tear 
coming out maybe.

491
00:19:15,598 --> 00:19:16,631
Oh my gosh!

492
00:19:16,631 --> 00:19:17,631
I'll admit it.

493
00:19:17,631 --> 00:19:19,298
Everytime I watch it, 
you know it's coming,

494
00:19:19,298 --> 00:19:20,298
too.

495
00:19:20,298 --> 00:19:21,298
Exactly.

496
00:19:21,298 --> 00:19:23,331
Finally favorite 
television series?

497
00:19:23,331 --> 00:19:26,664
Television series?

498
00:19:26,664 --> 00:19:27,798
"Breaking Bad".

499
00:19:27,798 --> 00:19:30,031
Is it got one more season 
or a few more episodes left?

500
00:19:30,031 --> 00:19:32,898
I think the season five 
-- half of it's played.

501
00:19:32,898 --> 00:19:34,364
And I think the other 
half is coming out.

502
00:19:34,364 --> 00:19:37,364
But I've only seent he first 
four because it was on Netflix.

503
00:19:37,364 --> 00:19:38,864
We only have 30 seconds left but 
what do you guys do out in the

504
00:19:38,864 --> 00:19:39,864
bull pen when 
you're sitting around?

505
00:19:39,864 --> 00:19:40,964
You don't have to start 
for a couple of days.

506
00:19:40,964 --> 00:19:41,964
What do you guys do?

507
00:19:41,964 --> 00:19:42,964
Well I actually sit in the..

508
00:19:42,964 --> 00:19:44,531
Are you in the dug out?

509
00:19:44,531 --> 00:19:45,831
I'm in the dug out.

510
00:19:45,831 --> 00:19:48,331
All the starters, if 
they're not pitching that day.

511
00:19:48,331 --> 00:19:50,264
None of the 
starters go out there.

512
00:19:50,264 --> 00:19:51,631
No, it's all the bull pen.

513
00:19:51,631 --> 00:19:54,131
So who knows what 
they do out there.

514
00:19:54,131 --> 00:19:58,331
You know some of the starters 
are charting in the stands doing

515
00:19:58,331 --> 00:20:01,631
rader gun or they're 
hanging out in the dug out.

516
00:20:01,631 --> 00:20:03,864
But who knows with 
those crazy bull pen guys?

517
00:20:03,864 --> 00:20:04,864
The relievers are 
doing out there.

518
00:20:04,864 --> 00:20:06,898
Yeah, they'e a 
different breed for sure.

519
00:20:06,898 --> 00:20:08,431
Well Michael, thank you 
so much for being with us.

520
00:20:08,431 --> 00:20:09,431
We appreciate it.

521
00:20:09,431 --> 00:20:10,431
Continue success.

522
00:20:10,431 --> 00:20:11,431
We'll take a break.

523
00:20:11,431 --> 00:20:15,198
'Overtime' is coming up next.

524
00:20:15,198 --> 00:20:27,698
♪♪♪

525
00:20:27,698 --> 00:20:28,364
(male announcer) 
Three..

526
00:20:28,364 --> 00:20:29,064
Two..

527
00:20:29,064 --> 00:20:30,131
One..

528
00:20:30,131 --> 00:20:33,498
[buzzer sounds]

529
00:20:33,498 --> 00:20:34,698
One of the 
fastest growing sports in the

530
00:20:34,698 --> 00:20:36,664
United States is 
mixed martial arts.

531
00:20:36,664 --> 00:20:39,564
And it's a sport we have 
profiled on "Sports Files".

532
00:20:39,564 --> 00:20:42,564
I'll be honest with you, M-M-A 
is not for everyone because it

533
00:20:42,564 --> 00:20:45,331
often can be violent, but 
violent in a controlled

534
00:20:45,331 --> 00:20:47,564
atmosphere where safety 
precautions are taken very

535
00:20:47,564 --> 00:20:48,698
seriously.

536
00:20:48,698 --> 00:20:51,231
Now recently we sent 
Photographer Clifford Thomas to

537
00:20:51,231 --> 00:20:53,931
a night of V-3 fights at 
Minglewood Hall in Memphis,

538
00:20:53,931 --> 00:20:55,931
and with the work of 
editor Nolan Smith,

539
00:20:55,931 --> 00:20:58,898
we wanted to show you what 
it's like for an M-M-A fighter.

540
00:20:58,898 --> 00:21:01,031
In this case, it's 
Arkansas native Tripp Carter.

541
00:21:01,031 --> 00:21:02,631
A very popular fighter.

542
00:21:02,631 --> 00:21:04,998
But on this night it 
would be Carter's opponent,

543
00:21:04,998 --> 00:21:09,098
Matt Robinson, who 
would steal the show.

544
00:21:09,098 --> 00:21:57,564
♪♪♪

545
00:21:57,564 --> 00:25:15,498
(applause and cheering)

546
00:25:15,498 --> 00:25:17,764
We present the official tap 
of two miunutes.

547
00:25:17,764 --> 00:25:20,298
42 seconds in round number one.

548
00:25:20,298 --> 00:25:22,864
Due to verbal tap out, 
declaring your winner,

549
00:25:22,864 --> 00:25:30,198
Matt Robinson!

550
00:25:30,198 --> 00:25:39,198
(applause and cheering)

551
00:25:39,198 --> 00:25:39,798
Tought night for Tripp but

552
00:25:39,798 --> 00:25:42,731
unquestionably he will 
live to fight another day!

553
00:25:42,731 --> 00:25:44,231
And that will do it 
for this week's show.

554
00:25:44,231 --> 00:25:46,731
Next week I'll be joined by 
college football hall of fame

555
00:25:46,731 --> 00:25:48,464
coach Gene Stallings.

556
00:25:48,464 --> 00:25:51,264
And remember you can see any of 
pur previous shows by going to

557
00:25:51,264 --> 00:25:54,531
WKNO-dot-org and 
clicking on KNO Tonite.

558
00:25:54,531 --> 00:25:56,664
Have a great week, and 
we'll see you next time!

559
00:25:56,664 --> 00:26:00,664
♪♪♪