WEBVTT

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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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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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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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Manager Mike Matheny when you
were up with Saint Louis or of

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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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Do you get a lot of
information, direction?

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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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they talk to you?

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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.

09:30.398 --> 09:33.098
They haven't really messed
with me mechanically-wise,

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you know, since
I've been drafted.

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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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stuff.

09:43.098 --> 09:45.631
That's mainly what
the talks are about.

09:45.631 --> 09:47.831
You're innings are
being monitered.

09:47.831 --> 09:50.864
So you're not always going
to start that fifth day,

09:50.864 --> 09:52.831
that fifth game.

09:52.831 --> 09:53.831
Is that tough?

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Is that taxing on
you not knowing?

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Yeah, I mean it's definitely a
different experience that I've

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never really experienced before.

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But you know I wish I was
pitching every fifth day.

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I love being out on the mound.

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But I understand what they're
trying to do and limit my

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innings to my first
professional season.

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And so I guess they're
just looking in the long run.

10:16.831 --> 10:19.431
But I would like to
be out there pitching.

10:19.431 --> 10:22.398
But I guess I can see
where they're coming from.

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Got your competitive juices.

10:23.564 --> 10:24.564
Exactly, yeah.

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But we saw what happened
with the nationals and with

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Strasburg.

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And they had to be
very careful with him.

10:30.064 --> 10:32.131
So Texas A-and-M had
that steady start.

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You knew when you were going.

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What was the experience like
in college at Texas A-and-M and

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then try to compare it to when
you made your first start in the

10:41.564 --> 10:43.231
pros?

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A-and-M was a lot of fun.

10:44.364 --> 10:47.964
You know their fans remind me
a lot of the Cardinal fans.

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I mean they fill up
that place every game.

10:51.531 --> 10:52.531
Passionate.

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Yeah, very passionate, you know.

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They know the baseball as well.

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They're smart fans.

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It was a lot of fun playing in
front of those guys and playing

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for the coaches.

11:02.698 --> 11:05.931
Coach Childress and Coach
Sawyers and Coach Sealy.

11:05.931 --> 11:07.964
And then playing
with those teamates.

11:07.964 --> 11:11.831
Those guys are going to be my
brothers for the rest of my

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life.

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And you know I wouldn't have
traded those years for anything.

11:15.931 --> 11:19.098
I was so blessed to be able to
go play at Texas A-and-M for

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Coach Chidress giving me the
opportunity to go play there.

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And yeah, it was a fun
three years for sure.

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And you missed the move
to the S-E-C by a year.

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Yeah, yeah.

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I played all of my
three years in the Big 12,

11:30.631 --> 11:31.631
yeah.

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Now did you have any
crossover at all with Manzel.

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When he played, you
were already gone.

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But do you know Johnny?

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I met him a couple times.

11:40.864 --> 11:45.164
Yeah but I mean he's a heck of a
player out there on the field.

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I wasn't able to go to a lot
of the football games this past

11:49.098 --> 11:50.098
season.

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He's a heck of a player.

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I was able to go to Tuscaloosa.

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Oh, did you go to the game?

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Whenever we took down Alabama.

11:56.431 --> 11:58.398
But yeah, it was unbelievable,
unbelievable off-season.

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It was a lot of fun being able
to go back and watch him play.

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Oh, he has the off-season.

12:03.531 --> 12:04.531
He's out there.

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He's partying.

12:06.264 --> 12:08.598
He's with the
Hollywood stars and all that.

12:08.598 --> 12:09.964
Alright, here you are.

12:09.964 --> 12:11.598
Big first round pick.

12:11.598 --> 12:14.698
Already got a major
league win under your belt.

12:14.698 --> 12:16.098
You see yourself
being that kind of guy?

12:16.098 --> 12:18.998
You out there on Beale Street
partying and all that or are you

12:18.998 --> 12:21.398
just quiet and go to your back
apartment or condo where ever

12:21.398 --> 12:23.764
you live and just
keep it even keel?

12:23.764 --> 12:27.164
Yeah, I mean I just
keep it pretty even keel.

12:27.164 --> 12:31.398
You know I mean Johnny, he's a
young kid just trying to have a

12:31.398 --> 12:32.764
good time really, ya know?

12:32.764 --> 12:36.498
He's trying to live it up and I
can see where he's coming from.

12:36.498 --> 12:40.298
But yeah, I mean after games, I
just go back to my apartment and

12:40.298 --> 12:42.764
hang out for a while, you
know, go grab something to eat.

12:42.764 --> 12:43.764
Yeah.

12:43.764 --> 12:44.764
But you've got to
have a little fun,

12:44.764 --> 12:45.764
too.

12:45.764 --> 12:46.764
You're a young guy
just like him -- rihgt?

12:46.764 --> 12:47.764
I mean yeah.

12:47.764 --> 12:49.698
I mean I have some
fun every now and then.

12:49.698 --> 12:51.931
But I mean he's
in the off-season.

12:51.931 --> 12:53.798
I'm sure he's not doing
that during the season.

12:53.798 --> 12:58.731
But yeah, I mean,
he's a heck of a player.

12:58.731 --> 13:01.131
And I mean he can have
a little fun I guess.

13:01.131 --> 13:03.098
Well Michael, what's it
like here in Memphis?

13:03.098 --> 13:05.331
We know there's a lot of
Cardinals fans so there's

13:05.331 --> 13:08.198
obviously Redbirds fans playing
in this beautiful Autozone Park.

13:08.198 --> 13:09.198
What's it been like for ya?

13:09.198 --> 13:13.031
I mean there's a lot of
Cardinals fans that live in

13:13.031 --> 13:14.031
Memphis.

13:14.031 --> 13:15.031
So they come out and
they know who everyone is.

13:15.031 --> 13:20.331
They understand who these minor
league players are that can go

13:20.331 --> 13:23.264
up and play and fill in in
Saint Louis at any time.

13:23.264 --> 13:26.331
So they're very
knowlegable here as well.

13:26.331 --> 13:29.264
You know it's a lot of fun
playing in such a nice ballpark

13:29.264 --> 13:32.531
here in Memphis and playing
in front of these fans here.

13:32.531 --> 13:33.531
How do you stay, Michael?

13:33.531 --> 13:34.531
How do you stay patient?

13:34.531 --> 13:35.964
Beucase you've tasted it.

13:35.964 --> 13:37.764
You know what
it's like up there.

13:37.764 --> 13:40.698
The way professional
athletes are catered.

13:40.698 --> 13:43.731
It's not too shabby a Triple-A
but it's a whole different level

13:43.731 --> 13:44.731
as you know.

13:44.731 --> 13:47.298
How do you stay even keel
patient knowing that your time

13:47.298 --> 13:48.398
will come again?

13:48.398 --> 13:53.364
Yeah, I mean it's tough
trying to keep that patience.

13:53.364 --> 13:56.464
But you know you just
got to come to the field.

13:56.464 --> 13:58.098
And you just got
to tell yourself,

13:58.098 --> 13:59.864
you know, you got
stuff to work on.

13:59.864 --> 14:03.164
You know it's tough to go up
there and stay -- stay in the

14:03.164 --> 14:04.164
big leagues.

14:04.164 --> 14:06.664
And so you just got to prepare
yourself down here for whenever

14:06.664 --> 14:10.631
you do called up again, that
maybe you can stay up there the

14:10.631 --> 14:11.631
next time.

14:11.631 --> 14:13.831
You know I've talked to some
guys that have been called up

14:13.831 --> 14:15.464
and sent back down.

14:15.464 --> 14:17.198
You know what
I've got to work on.

14:17.198 --> 14:19.898
Like I talked to Rob
Johnson all the time about it.

14:19.898 --> 14:23.898
And he's a great guy to have on
the team who's kind of a mentor

14:23.898 --> 14:25.231
to all of us young guys.

14:25.231 --> 14:28.864
And yeah, so it's good
talking to him about it.

14:28.864 --> 14:32.498
Yeah, let me ask you about the
pitcher-catcher relationship.

14:32.498 --> 14:35.064
You know we hear an awful lot
about how important it is that

14:35.064 --> 14:37.598
the catcher calling the
game for the pitcher.

14:37.598 --> 14:41.631
But is it comprable to a
golfer-caddy relationship?

14:41.631 --> 14:45.731
Is it maybe even tighter
where you really are completely

14:45.731 --> 14:48.898
dependant on that catcher or is
it more exaggerated a little but

14:48.898 --> 14:51.564
and maybe it's not as pivotal?

14:51.564 --> 14:56.598
I mean I wouldn't say we're
totally like reliant on them.

14:56.598 --> 15:00.298
But I trust in Rob and whenever
I was up in Saint Louis,

15:00.298 --> 15:02.131
I definitely trusted in Yadi.

15:02.131 --> 15:07.964
And what they're putting down in
that I have to have the mindset

15:07.964 --> 15:09.398
that this is the right pitch.

15:09.398 --> 15:13.164
But I absolutely trust this guy
because I mean if I go up there,

15:13.164 --> 15:15.998
I'm like, "Ah, I don't really
feel like throwing this pitch

15:15.998 --> 15:16.998
that he just put down."

15:16.998 --> 15:18.998
And that balls going to get hit.

15:18.998 --> 15:20.931
You know I'm not
throwing it wtih conviction.

15:20.931 --> 15:23.198
And so you know you got
to have complete trust.

15:23.198 --> 15:27.164
And we talk all the time, going
over scout reports on these

15:27.164 --> 15:28.164
guys.

15:28.164 --> 15:31.664
And yeah, so the main thing
is just having trust in them.

15:31.664 --> 15:35.564
I mean it's a really close
relationship for sure though.

15:35.564 --> 15:37.598
Do they get upset if
you shake them off?

15:37.598 --> 15:38.598
No, not at all.

15:38.598 --> 15:42.398
I mean they're putting down
what they think is right.

15:42.398 --> 15:45.631
But I mean there can be two
pitches that could work in any

15:45.631 --> 15:46.631
count.

15:46.631 --> 15:47.631
Sure.

15:47.631 --> 15:48.631
Really so.

15:48.631 --> 15:49.631
Yeah they don't really get upset
unless they get a home run after

15:49.631 --> 15:50.631
you.

15:50.631 --> 15:52.331
Then they see you
going like this.

15:52.331 --> 15:54.864
You shouldn't have shook me off!

15:54.864 --> 15:56.098
Yeah, you're right.

15:56.098 --> 16:01.964
Do you see in Triple-A, do
you look at a lot of tape on

16:01.964 --> 16:05.164
opponents and when you're up
in Saint Louis for that stint.

16:05.164 --> 16:07.664
Did you look at tape of the
opponents you were about to

16:07.664 --> 16:08.664
face?

16:08.664 --> 16:10.364
Not a lot down here in Memphis
but definitely when I was in

16:10.364 --> 16:11.898
Saint Louis.

16:11.898 --> 16:15.331
They have a video
room where those guys.

16:15.331 --> 16:17.531
I mean it's an
unbelievable set-up up there.

16:17.531 --> 16:21.031
They just give you a line-up,
the line-up for that day.

16:21.031 --> 16:23.198
And you go on the
computer, it's already on there.

16:23.198 --> 16:26.198
They have clips from probably
about a hundred at-bats of every

16:26.198 --> 16:27.364
single batter on the line up.

16:27.364 --> 16:28.364
Wow!

16:28.364 --> 16:31.198
Yeah, so you can see like
whatever they're doing.

16:31.198 --> 16:32.631
It's pretty unbelievable.

16:32.631 --> 16:34.998
Can you overthink though?

16:34.998 --> 16:35.998
Watch too much?

16:35.998 --> 16:37.731
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

16:37.731 --> 16:38.731
Definitely.

16:38.731 --> 16:39.731
You can definitely overthink.

16:39.731 --> 16:41.564
I mean I didn't pay attention.

16:41.564 --> 16:43.398
Like I didn't watch
all hundred clips.

16:43.398 --> 16:47.098
I watched a few of each guy.

16:47.098 --> 16:48.698
See what their
swings kind of look like.

16:48.698 --> 16:52.531
I mean this is probably my first
time facing all those hitters.

16:52.531 --> 16:55.931
But I mean I just had to
really trust in Yadi because,

16:55.931 --> 16:58.898
I mean, he had seen
all of those guys.

16:58.898 --> 17:03.631
And he knew what kind of
sequences he wanted to go with

17:03.631 --> 17:04.631
those guys.

17:04.631 --> 17:05.631
So..

17:05.631 --> 17:07.398
Did you get the baseball by the
way from your first big league

17:07.398 --> 17:08.398
hit?

17:08.398 --> 17:09.964
Yep, I got the
first big league hit.

17:09.964 --> 17:12.798
I got the first win and
the first strike out.

17:12.798 --> 17:14.164
You got all of them?

17:14.164 --> 17:15.164
All the balls?

17:15.164 --> 17:17.431
I was going to say
all the golf balls.

17:17.431 --> 17:18.431
All the baseballs.

17:18.431 --> 17:19.431
And where they at?

17:19.431 --> 17:22.231
I gave them to my dad
just the other day.

17:22.231 --> 17:23.431
So they're back in the house.

17:23.431 --> 17:24.964
Better believe they're proud!

17:24.964 --> 17:25.964
oh yeah.

17:25.964 --> 17:26.964
Your familys proud.

17:26.964 --> 17:31.631
Alright, five
years from now, 2018,

17:31.631 --> 17:34.198
what are we saying
about Michael Wacha?

17:34.198 --> 17:35.464
Oh man!

17:35.464 --> 17:40.264
Hopefully I've been in the big
leagues for a little while and

17:40.264 --> 17:43.364
you know just that I'm a
competitor out there on the

17:43.364 --> 17:44.364
mound.

17:44.364 --> 17:47.198
You know he's going to go out
there and you know give it his

17:47.198 --> 17:49.731
all and give this team
the best chance to win.

17:49.731 --> 17:53.431
And you know hopefully
that's what they're saying.

17:53.431 --> 17:57.131
We are literally on hot seats
but you are off the hot seat.

17:57.131 --> 17:59.131
But we're not done with the
interview yet because I like to

17:59.131 --> 18:01.731
end all my interviews with
something called 'Five for the

18:01.731 --> 18:02.731
Road'.

18:02.731 --> 18:04.964
So the fans out there, our
viewers can learn a little bit

18:04.964 --> 18:06.031
more about my guest.

18:06.031 --> 18:08.431
So quick answers
to these questions.

18:08.431 --> 18:11.831
Number one -- What is your
favorite professional team in

18:11.831 --> 18:12.831
any sport?

18:12.831 --> 18:14.331
You can't say the
Saint Louis Cardinals.

18:14.331 --> 18:15.364
Green bay Packers.

18:15.364 --> 18:16.364
The Packers?

18:16.364 --> 18:17.364
Yep.

18:17.364 --> 18:18.364
You're a Texas guy!

18:18.364 --> 18:19.364
I know.

18:19.364 --> 18:21.831
You're shunning your Cowboys?

18:21.831 --> 18:22.831
Never!

18:22.831 --> 18:25.031
Never a Cowboys fan!

18:25.031 --> 18:27.831
Family grew up in the Mid-West
and they were all Packers fans

18:27.831 --> 18:28.831
growing up.

18:28.831 --> 18:33.331
So I kind of all the children
now are all Packer fans.

18:33.331 --> 18:34.331
Wow, Packers!

18:34.331 --> 18:37.231
Okay, your favorite professional
athlete of all time?

18:37.231 --> 18:38.698
Uh, all time?

18:38.698 --> 18:40.731
I'd say Aaron Rogers.

18:40.731 --> 18:41.731
Aaron Rogers?

18:41.731 --> 18:42.831
Yeah, I like
watching him play, yeah.

18:42.831 --> 18:45.698
How about if it was
a baseball player,

18:45.698 --> 18:47.131
who would it be?

18:47.131 --> 18:48.131
Derek Jeter.

18:48.131 --> 18:50.064
Favorite music, musician, band?

18:50.064 --> 18:51.731
What do you like to listen to?

18:51.731 --> 18:54.731
Ah, I like some country music.

18:54.731 --> 18:56.431
A little Randy Rogers Band.

18:56.431 --> 18:57.431
Okay.

18:57.431 --> 18:58.631
Are they more local?

18:58.631 --> 19:00.964
It's a little Texas-country.

19:00.964 --> 19:02.164
Yeah, yeah.

19:02.164 --> 19:04.331
Um, favorite movie of all time?

19:04.331 --> 19:06.864
"Field of Dreams."

19:06.864 --> 19:08.998
Do ya cry?

19:08.998 --> 19:11.098
I have before, I have before.

19:11.098 --> 19:12.098
Yeah.

19:12.098 --> 19:13.098
Dad, do you want
to have a catch?

19:13.098 --> 19:15.598
Had a little tear
coming out maybe.

19:15.598 --> 19:16.631
Oh my gosh!

19:16.631 --> 19:17.631
I'll admit it.

19:17.631 --> 19:19.298
Everytime I watch it,
you know it's coming,

19:19.298 --> 19:20.298
too.

19:20.298 --> 19:21.298
Exactly.

19:21.298 --> 19:23.331
Finally favorite
television series?

19:23.331 --> 19:26.664
Television series?

19:26.664 --> 19:27.798
"Breaking Bad".

19:27.798 --> 19:30.031
Is it got one more season
or a few more episodes left?

19:30.031 --> 19:32.898
I think the season five
-- half of it's played.

19:32.898 --> 19:34.364
And I think the other
half is coming out.

19:34.364 --> 19:37.364
But I've only seent he first
four because it was on Netflix.

19:37.364 --> 19:38.864
We only have 30 seconds left but
what do you guys do out in the

19:38.864 --> 19:39.864
bull pen when
you're sitting around?

19:39.864 --> 19:40.964
You don't have to start
for a couple of days.

19:40.964 --> 19:41.964
What do you guys do?

19:41.964 --> 19:42.964
Well I actually sit in the..

19:42.964 --> 19:44.531
Are you in the dug out?

19:44.531 --> 19:45.831
I'm in the dug out.

19:45.831 --> 19:48.331
All the starters, if
they're not pitching that day.

19:48.331 --> 19:50.264
None of the
starters go out there.

19:50.264 --> 19:51.631
No, it's all the bull pen.

19:51.631 --> 19:54.131
So who knows what
they do out there.

19:54.131 --> 19:58.331
You know some of the starters
are charting in the stands doing

19:58.331 --> 20:01.631
rader gun or they're
hanging out in the dug out.

20:01.631 --> 20:03.864
But who knows with
those crazy bull pen guys?

20:03.864 --> 20:04.864
The relievers are
doing out there.

20:04.864 --> 20:06.898
Yeah, they'e a
different breed for sure.

20:06.898 --> 20:08.431
Well Michael, thank you
so much for being with us.

20:08.431 --> 20:09.431
We appreciate it.

20:09.431 --> 20:10.431
Continue success.

20:10.431 --> 20:11.431
We'll take a break.

20:11.431 --> 20:15.198
'Overtime' is coming up next.

20:15.198 --> 20:27.698
♪♪♪

20:27.698 --> 20:28.364
(male announcer)
Three..

20:28.364 --> 20:29.064
Two..

20:29.064 --> 20:30.131
One..

20:30.131 --> 20:33.498
[buzzer sounds]

20:33.498 --> 20:34.698
One of the
fastest growing sports in the

20:34.698 --> 20:36.664
United States is
mixed martial arts.

20:36.664 --> 20:39.564
And it's a sport we have
profiled on "Sports Files".

20:39.564 --> 20:42.564
I'll be honest with you, M-M-A
is not for everyone because it

20:42.564 --> 20:45.331
often can be violent, but
violent in a controlled

20:45.331 --> 20:47.564
atmosphere where safety
precautions are taken very

20:47.564 --> 20:48.698
seriously.

20:48.698 --> 20:51.231
Now recently we sent
Photographer Clifford Thomas to

20:51.231 --> 20:53.931
a night of V-3 fights at
Minglewood Hall in Memphis,

20:53.931 --> 20:55.931
and with the work of
editor Nolan Smith,

20:55.931 --> 20:58.898
we wanted to show you what
it's like for an M-M-A fighter.

20:58.898 --> 21:01.031
In this case, it's
Arkansas native Tripp Carter.

21:01.031 --> 21:02.631
A very popular fighter.

21:02.631 --> 21:04.998
But on this night it
would be Carter's opponent,

21:04.998 --> 21:09.098
Matt Robinson, who
would steal the show.

21:09.098 --> 21:57.564
♪♪♪

21:57.564 --> 25:15.498
(applause and cheering)

25:15.498 --> 25:17.764
We present the official tap
of two miunutes.

25:17.764 --> 25:20.298
42 seconds in round number one.

25:20.298 --> 25:22.864
Due to verbal tap out,
declaring your winner,

25:22.864 --> 25:30.198
Matt Robinson!

25:30.198 --> 25:39.198
(applause and cheering)

25:39.198 --> 25:39.798
Tought night for Tripp but

25:39.798 --> 25:42.731
unquestionably he will
live to fight another day!

25:42.731 --> 25:44.231
And that will do it
for this week's show.

25:44.231 --> 25:46.731
Next week I'll be joined by
college football hall of fame

25:46.731 --> 25:48.464
coach Gene Stallings.

25:48.464 --> 25:51.264
And remember you can see any of
pur previous shows by going to

25:51.264 --> 25:54.531
WKNO-dot-org and
clicking on KNO Tonite.

25:54.531 --> 25:56.664
Have a great week, and
we'll see you next time!

25:56.664 --> 26:00.664
♪♪♪