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00:00and excited to hang out a little bit with one of the San Francisco Giants who are hot to start this
00:06thing off. So joining us on the River Islands guest line is none other than, yes, Mike Yastrzemski.
00:10What's going on, man? Not much. Thanks for having me. Yeah, we're glad to have you. So you're
00:15hitting 444. What are the chances you end the season with that average? Zero percent. Okay.
00:22All right, man. What a pessimistic thing to say. No. Yes. Like, like, obviously, we keep hearing
00:29the vibes are good. We hear it's a new brand of baseball. I think we can see it, but I'd love to
00:35know what it was like from the inside out. What was the team really stressing going into spring
00:41training this year? Honestly, just I think what you're seeing, you know, we were, we're,
00:48we've been committed to trying to play a brand of baseball that represents us as well as possible.
00:55And we're, we're a fun, gritty group. And I think we're starting to see that already. We've played
01:00a couple of close games. We've pulled, you know, we've already had a come from behind win. You know,
01:05there's just been some really great performances so far. And I think that's something we're just
01:10trying to build on. Fun, gritty group, but also one that's built on defense. And as you're out
01:14there in the outfield and you look around the rest of the team, you got a great catcher in the left
01:18side of the infield is amazing. And your center fielder is back retrieving just about everything.
01:23And you're legit out there in right field is defense. Now a big part of what this year's
01:28team is going to be. I think it is. I think it's something that we've known. We needed to
01:34improve on a little bit because we, we know in our ballpark, we're going to play close games
01:39regardless. And so I think when we looked at it from a hole, we said, we just have to be
01:45more competitive on this side of the ball. And I think that's shown up. And I think guys are
01:49taking a lot of pride in that. Yeah. As you mentioned the come from behind win on opening
01:54day, I look, there's 162 of these, but, but early in a season on the road, what does that do for,
02:01for the group? When you have a game like that? I think it just injects confidence. You know,
02:06there's, we already believed it, but to put it into play that we're never out of the game is
02:12something that we want to hold ourselves to a certain standard and keep playing.
02:17Like we don't have anything to lose. And I think we did that in that game and
02:21just a lot of really clutch at bats that happened. And I think when it comes down
02:24to it, we are truly taking our baths for each other, not just for ourselves.
02:30And Mike, just so you know, my partner here, we were watching it live and you know,
02:34we're doing a show and we're doing radio and we're talking about the warriors and whatnot,
02:38and this man jumped up and he's doing like fist pumps in the air. Like it was October.
02:44Is that something where, I mean, you guys came from behind and you did what you did and you got
02:49a nice win on the road on the opener. How much does that like vibe out into the, into the clubhouse
02:55where you guys are starting to fulfill what you built in the spring? Yeah, it's electric. I think,
03:01I think we, we have our group here and you know, when you're in spring training, you're,
03:08you're trying to, to gear yourself up for the season and be prepared. And I think it,
03:14it started to take shape there where we saw some, some great performances in spring training,
03:19where guys were playing it like it was a season and taking it seriously. And
03:24that just sets the tone and we carried it right into the season. Mike Jastrzemski with us on
03:28Willard and Dibbs. How many torpedo bats have you ordered at this hour? Good question.
03:33Uh, none so far. Uh, I I've used the same bat that I've always used for the last
03:42seven years. But if somebody, somebody in our clubhouse ends up ordering a couple,
03:48I'll, I'll give it a try, you know, because from, from what I understand, the, the bats have been
03:55manufactured specifically for whoever orders that swing based on data. And so for me to go
04:02and use a bat that's made for jazz Chisholm doesn't necessarily make sense to me in this
04:08moment. Um, that's fair, but what, what's your larger take? Do you, do you think,
04:13do you think this is all, I don't want to say is it all on the up and up, but do you know what I
04:17mean? Like where, where's this story going in, in your opinion? Um, I mean, it's just another
04:24baseball story, right? Like the game's always evolving. Everyone's always trying to get better
04:28and trying to figure out the way to maximize everything they can out of everything they have.
04:35And so I think this is just another one of those things where you're going to look at it and it's
04:40going to be good for some guys and for other guys, it's, it's might not help them, you know,
04:44maybe the bat they have is the best that they're going to get. And right now, it doesn't seem like
04:49you guys need any fix, especially Wilmer Flores with already with eight runs batted in and four,
04:54he's on pace for a 324 RBI, which I believe would be a record. I, I have to actually Google that,
05:00but right now with the one through nine, it feels like everybody is just moving the line.
05:05What's it like right now from a batting standpoint with this team, where it seems like all nine of
05:11you are contributing? Yeah, I think everybody is, uh, is just focused on execution and focused on
05:20how do I take this at bat and put the person behind me in a better situation than the one
05:24that I came into. Um, so it's just, it's simple, you know, we're, we're just trying to play
05:30baseball. We're not trying to make too much out of any situation or, you know, get too down on
05:34ourselves if we don't come through because we know the guy behind us is going to pick us up.
05:39Yes. Do you go deep into the analytics like that with, with your game and your swing? Like have you,
05:45do you have someone giving you the research on, on where you connect with the ball the most?
05:52Um, no, I, I haven't really dug into it a whole lot. I think it's something that maybe I will
05:56look a little bit more into, um, now that it's being so prevalent, but I'll tell you what guys,
06:03if you get jammed and you're going to get a bleeder and all of a sudden it turns into a
06:08line out, I don't know if I like that. You know, you give it a little extra juice and it's an out
06:14instead of a two out RBI that you got jammed on and you were fighting to stay alive. So who knows?
06:20Yeah. And the bleeder might work for you with, uh, with the speed. And we were watching yesterday
06:24where you were able to score from second on a base hit and a little bit of a, not a hook slide
06:29anymore, but now it's, it's a hook dive. How much is the run game important for not only you, but
06:34the entire team looks like you guys are all faster than you were last year.
06:38Um, you know, I think that, uh, that's just the mentality, you know, that's, uh, that's a
06:44deciding to play every aspect of baseball. I think we've committed ourselves to that. So,
06:51um, there's always ways to improve. And if some days you're not swinging it well,
06:55you just got to find a way to get the second, steal a bag, read a dirt ball,
06:59you know, make a good read on a ground ball. Um, and I think it's, you know, it's something that
07:05we have talked about a lot. So guys are taking it seriously and trying to improve. So, um,
07:11I'm just, I'm happy with the way that guys are approaching every game so far.
07:14Mike is Chomsky with us on weathered and dibs. Yes. Uh, would love to hear
07:18who, who is Willie Adamas and, and what is his effect on this clubhouse?
07:25Man, he is,
07:27uh, he's just a, he's a true leader. You know, he, he doesn't just talk to talk. He walks the
07:33walk. You know, you hear these things about him and he says he loves to bring people together and
07:38to, to be hanging out with his teammates. And that is the only thing that I've seen from him so far.
07:43He loves to be around guys, loves to bring people together. He's always happy. He's always laughing.
07:50Um, and that's just, that, that's a game changer. You know, that, that changes things. He's not
07:54afraid to, to get the boys going. He's not afraid to put himself out there to,
07:59to try and get you fired up or to get you to relax or to whatever is necessary. I think he's got a
08:05really good feel for interpersonal communication skills. And so that's, uh, that's something that,
08:11you know, certainly hasn't gone unnoticed for us.
08:14And he played really well. He's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's,
08:19and he played one 61 last year. And I know Chappie played more than 150 plus,
08:24and you got Bailey, who's going to be there every day. And Jung, who if healthy, we'll play every
08:27day. How important is that for a club to have, you know, four or five, maybe six guys who can
08:32play every day? Yeah, I think it's important to, to have established roles because when you have
08:40them, you can buy into them when you're in Lala land where, you know, you're in that middle ground,
08:45you, you know, you're playing, but you're not playing. You don't know what's really going on.
08:51It's hard to buy into that. So when, when things are established and you're given a clear cut role,
08:57it's, it's really a whole lot easier to, to buy into committing yourself to doing what you need
09:02to do for that role. Well, and, and one of those everyday players is now the center fielder who's
09:07next to you. And obviously you had a little bit of time with him last year. Um, but I wonder how
09:12that's developed both on the field and off with, uh, with Jung-Hoo Lee. We saw you even doing some
09:18stuff with the giants, some playful videos and stuff with him before the season started. So
09:24how's that relationship developing? Oh, it's been great. Jung-Hee, uh, you know, he,
09:30he dives in headfirst to everything. He wants to be a part of team dinners. Uh, you know,
09:37anytime there's a get together, if we're going to a movie, if we're hanging out,
09:42whatever he, he wants to be there. Um, which is really, really cool. And, you know, honestly,
09:48pretty courageous of him because when you're in a foreign country, you know, he's, his English is
09:53getting better, but you don't speak the language. It's, that's gotta be tough to do. I can only
09:57imagine. I know I want to go hide in a shell if I were playing in Korea, you know, and not want to
10:02put myself out there as much as, as he does. So I have to give him a lot of credit because man,
10:06he puts in some serious effort to, to really be a part of this team. And I know everyone
10:12appreciates it and loves having him around. What's that like when you're right? And he's
10:16in center and there's obviously communication before the pitch and during the at bat,
10:20when a ball goes out there, is there something that you guys use as communication? Is it Korean?
10:26Is it English? Is it nonverbal? What's it like out there when there's a ball in the right center?
10:32Um, in, in the gaps, he, he understands, you know, baseball English well enough to,
10:38you know, if I'm saying I got it or he'll, he'll say, I got it, you know? So he, um,
10:44he's, he's pretty fluent in that sense. And then there's also just a, uh, a universal baseball
10:50language, you know, whether it's nonverbals or whether it's a look or, you know, pointing or
10:58anything within the gameplay actually goes really smooth.
11:04Yes. I know you guys really want to focus on just you guys and, and what you can do,
11:08but I would love to get a reaction to this. Um, here we are, um, you know, uh, sort of a week
11:15ish into the season and between you, the Padres and the Dodgers, there's a sum total of one lost
11:21game. Wow. One, one loss. What's what, like, what is your reaction to the way the division
11:26is starting out here? Not surprised. Um, you know, we've, we've known we've had a tough division
11:33for the last 10 years, you know, it's one of the best divisions in baseball. And so, um, it's,
11:39it's going to be a dog fight to the end. So I think, uh, you know, once, once we get a little
11:45deeper into the season, we'll, we'll see how things start to shape up a little bit, but,
11:49um, you know, I, I expected some, some good play, especially right out of the gates from,
11:54from everyone. Before we get to the big finish, I wanted to ask you about your moment with Jake
11:58Larson, World War II veteran, 102 years old, who was a fan of your grandpa. And you were able to
12:03go out there and catch his first pitch. What was that moment like for you with the legacy of the
12:08Yaz family and also being able to be a part of actual human American history? That's it's special
12:16man. Um, I, I really try and take advantage of any of those opportunities that I get because
12:24the stories and hearing what he specifically had to go through, what he sacrificed it
12:32and makes everything else so much more special, knowing that people really had to go through some
12:40really tough stuff for us to have this life that we have and to, to look back and be able to
12:46to embrace that and promote the stories and let people have the time to reflect and understand
12:55what went through in history in order for us to be where we are today is, it's just incredible.
13:02I almost don't have words for it. I kind of speechless that I got that opportunity and I'm
13:09trying to take advantage of every single one of those that I get. Yeah. Really cool, man. And made
13:14for just a cool video for all of us to watch as well. Mike Yastrzemski with us here on 95.7 The
13:20Game. All right, man, you know what time it is. Are you ready? You ready to do the big finish?
13:26Let's do it.
13:29All right, here we go. Mike Yastrzemski, big finish. Here are the two categories.
13:35Do you want to do long last names or life as a lefty?
13:39Let's do, let's do long last name. Okay. Last names. Are you a bigger fan of Mike Shishevsky
13:49or William Vanlandingham? Mike Shishevsky. Okay. What, what, what's your, what's your thought on
13:55coach K? And then I'm going to ask you another follow up on Vanlandingham.
14:00Yeah, he, you know, actually my grandfather was, is, is a diehard Duke basketball fan.
14:07Is a diehard Duke basketball fan because of him. You know, he, he just saw another successful,
14:12successful Polish guy and decided that he was going to start rooting for, for the blue devils.
14:19So I, I actually just enjoyed following his career and man, did he make an impact on that program?
14:24Um, and then the other follow up is, do you know who William Vanlandingham is?
14:30I do not. Okay. Giants pitcher,
14:35mid nineties, came up as kind of a hotshot rookie, had about two good seasons,
14:42fell off the shelf, was out of the bigs in about four years. Oh, I hate hearing that.
14:49But at the time, the longest last name in the history of the league.
14:54That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. Crazy. All right. Yeah. Question number two,
14:58did your wife page hesitate when she had to take your last name?
15:06I, I completely understand it because going from a simple, simple name as Cahill to figuring out
15:13your Stremski is a, uh, that's a tough pill to swallow for anyone. Yeah. Especially when your
15:20kids have to like bubble in on standardized testing where, you know, Cahill is a simple six.
15:25She's going to have to be the one to teach them how to spell it, you know?
15:28Yeah. A lot of consonants in there now, Mike.
15:30Oh, by the way, is that a consideration with the, uh, I know you guys have a growing family.
15:37Are you like giving out very short first names? So it's not overwhelming.
15:42Yeah. We're sticking, we're sticking with a short first names. Okay. All right. That
15:46makes sense. Bob and Tom and Peg, whatever it is. Yeah, exactly. Um, okay. Last one. And we
15:53saved the most difficult for last. This is tough. Can you spell Brandon Pajemski?
15:58Oh God. No, but I'll give it a shot. Give it a shot. You know, there's at least one Z in there.
16:06You're a good sport. I knew you'd give it a shot, Mike.
16:11All right. We're going to go. Hang on. Say it again. Brandon Pajemski. He's a warrior.
16:18There's a Z. There's a Z and a ski. Okay. We're going to go P-O-D.
16:27D. Yep. Z.
16:32That's wrong. No, no, no. You're good. You're doing great. You are correct so far. Yep.
16:38E-M-S-K-I. Oh, you left out one letter. It was so close. Is there a C that I'm missing?
16:46I before E, before the ski. Yeah. P-O-D-Z-I-E-M-S-K-I.
16:53Yeah. Thank you for playing. But the good news is the next time he comes on,
16:57we'll ask him to spell Yastrzemski. Great call.
17:00And he's going to nail it and he's going to make me look bad. I can't wait for it.
17:04You do get a copy of the home game, Willard and Dibbs, as a result of your solid effort.
17:10All right. Well, I appreciate it, guys. You're the best.
17:13Have you guys met each other, by the way? Has there been a lot of cross giants warrior stuff?
17:18Um, I actually, I think he might've come into the stadium at some point and I think I said
17:23hi to him, but it was, you know, right before a game. So it was super brief.
17:27Yeah. All right. Well, we're going to work on more of it. We're working on
17:31setting that podcast up. That would be good. All right, Mike. Thanks so much, man. Always tons of
17:38fun. All right, guys. Have a good one. Good luck tonight. Yep. Thanks.