February 20, 2025 • 15 mins
Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti joined "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" for the third day of full-squad workouts at spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida. Arrighetti discussed his fantasy football league, playing high school baseball in Houston, the offseason focus heading into his sophomore season, his opinion on the ABS challenge system and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You guys know that.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Listen to the Matt Thomas old Ross. I am out
of our fantasy league because I'm sick of losing and
finishing in sixth place because of terrible defense.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Yeah there's well this one guy. He's really annoying. He's
like back to back to back champion and he just
won't ever shut up. Such an ass.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, So the man, the man, the man replacing
him in our fantasy league will be our next guest,
the product. We got a spot open now he's out
Ranch high school. Look your economic potential. I'm waiting, worried
about you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I'll put the number on our phone. We want to
say it on air. We don't discuss those things on air.
First of all, you can afford it. Yeah, I'm a grinder.
I like Canalytics.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
How many How many leagues are you in?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I was only in one this year, but it was
like an important one. Yeah that's good? Yeah all right,
I mean I like winning money and fantasy that's the
Oh if you're good.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Actually, because he's terrible, sin again, we need somebody week.
All right, I'm gonna tell you he's he's terrible, so
we can't let you in. Actually, I got fourth place
in our league this year. But there were I mean,
there was really one trade I could have made. I'm
kind of kicking myself over it.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Jake, Yeah, man, it was like week four, Week five,
I kind of I was a little bit higher on
Remandre Stevenson than I should have been, and I had
an opportunity to acquire Chase Brown. You know, I think
that could have won me the league. I think that
would have been a difference. So Zach Moss wasn't hurt yet, right,
Zach Moss was not. That's not your fault. I know
it's not my fault. But Brian Thomas Junior was also
(01:24):
in the trade. I was gonna have to sacrifice Dk Metcalf.
I liked Metcalf at the time. I mean, I love
Metcalf as a player. I just wasn't I wasn't thinking
straight week four, you know, I wasn't looking at upside.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Look, all you gotta do is just try to get bett,
go out there and be better next year.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I'm look to improve. I mean, trade I made some
I made some I made some mistakes not making them.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, I don't know if the Bros Are doing
the Fantasy Baseball Draft anymore. But let's ask the question
if you were if I was in a draft, what
roun would I a draft spencer or getting.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
If I was in a draft, I'm probably let's see,
if I'm drafting early in like a ten or twelve man,
I'm probably picking myself like on the cusp of eight,
probably seven eight, if I had to guess.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Your strikeout totals will help us out big time. Yeah,
get some winsts. Walks down, Yeah, walks down, k's up. Yeah,
it's like the whole goal going into the year end.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yes, So I think I think that's a lot to
be excited about as the fantasy baseball manager.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
He is the hero of Single Ranch High School. You know,
hit my main Creek rams, not once, but twice. You
remember that from last year. Thanks for bringing that up.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I do.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
But I'm in their Wall of Honors, so that's nothing terrible.
I don't know if I'll be in the CINCO while honor,
Oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, school's barely been around.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
You'll be contacted shortly.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
We got one other big leaguer in program history. We
got another one on the way. Probably we're excited about.
But yeah, I sinkle Ranch means a lot to me obviously.
I love I love being from the area and getting
to play for the team. Now, I mean you live
out in Katy now, No, I don't live in Katy anymore.
I live I live closer to the Loop. Now, Yeah,
that would be quite a commute to get to the
stadium every day. That's not much better. No, it's not
(03:03):
at all, not at all better.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
All right, So, uh, I'm looking at the videos of
all the people that were down here. Like Spencer's more mature,
he's got he's got a greater stance on things. He's
he's more confident. I didn't think you were like quiet
and meek when you when we talked to you last year,
I mean, what what's up with that?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I think I just got used to talking more to
you guys. I guess like I did more, did more
media stuff, did more interviews, get a little more comfortable
finding the voice, and uh, it's been fun for me.
I think I enjoyed doing this stuff a lot. And
I last year in camp was definitely intentionally a little
bit less talkative when it was my turn. But I
definitely I can let it fly when it's time.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, we told you when.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You were on the shut up justin let me tell
you how to pitch. No man, Actually it was I
was hoping for him to tell me the same thing. Actually,
I wish he would have told me to shut up
and how to pitch. You don't have a brother. The
gravy trains off your success to why are you doing this?
That was a stray. Ben. Ben is in our league technically,
so the connections here are crazy. Yeah. Ben had a
(04:05):
great football Ben had a great fantasy football team. Sure
he's great.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
She's wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Oh my god, he's a heck of a Yeah. Right,
I'm sure he's outstanding. I can't wait to visit with
him again.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
What's been the focus for you this offseason we talked.
I mean there's been more mental, more physical, all the above,
as far as you know, going from that guy, not
that you're you know, you're established ten year vet, but
being like you said, starting out and now going and
getting ready for your second year.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Uh, yeah, I think it's it's always both. Spring training
is always both for me. I think it's obviously the
mental aspect of it's kind of just getting back into
the routine, getting back into the into the like kind
of flow of everything. Feeling like I'm on top of
my five day. A lot of the mental stuff this
year is just kind of embracing the readiness to compete.
I think that's always been a part of my game.
It's just like itching for the challenge, itching for that moment.
(04:53):
And obviously this year I'm I'm I'm a little more
welcoming to it. I think last year this time, I
was a little unsure where I was at. Was I
ready for the big leagues? Am I gonna have success
when I get there? Obviously we saw the story right
itself a little bit last year, and it wasn't pretty
right away. But I am. I'm very confident that I
can continue to build off of what I was able
(05:14):
to achieve in the second half last year, and I
think a lot of that centers around me getting my
brain and my body ready right now. I think the
physical aspect of it's the same camp is camp every year.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For me.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I'm just I AM really trying to attack my routine
and then, like I said, just really really preparing the
brain to go out there and fight for it every
time I'm on the bump.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's I asked this to a lot of young players
because it just comes. There had been a turning point.
And I don't know if it was.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
A particular start or where you were, or a.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Bit of advice you got, but you're no in your head,
So there had been something that you want to bring
to the passion here.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, I think I hit on it at FanFest a
little this year. I didn't really get a chance to
talk about that a whole lot last year. You know,
we're in the heat of it, we're trying to we're
trying to make up ground in the division. Right when
I finally started hitting my stride and really the day
that everything changed for me, I actually went to check
myself after I mentioned this at FanFest, but it was
the day that we actually got back to five hundred baseball.
(06:10):
It was it was against the Colorado Rockies at home,
and that was the turning point for me in my head,
because not only did I have a great game, I
mean everything, everything was good, My stuff was great. Mentally,
I'm great, I'm dominant in my brain. That's really where
I had my best days, is where in my head,
like I'm untouchable, I'm in my bubble, I'm in my zone.
(06:31):
And on top of that, like obviously being able to
be the guy on the bump when we started rough
and I was there to witness it, and I was
part of the reason we were struggling and to be
the reason why we were able to flip the script
and be at five hundred at that point in the season.
Was that was a big deal to me. I think
that confidence wise, that kind of propelled me to a
new level in my head where I could be dominant
like I had always been in the past in minor
(06:52):
league ball, in college coming up. And yeah, I think
that really flipped the switch for me. Right there was
just having that one first really really clean, really crisp outing.
I had no walks, I punched a ton, I didn't
give up any runs. It was it was an incredible feeling.
But then the feeling was really only there because of
the stark contrast of the months that were leading up
(07:13):
to that, the real lows that I felt trying to
find myself in the big leagues. And yeah, that day
things really really changed for me.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Spencer Araghetty with this year on the Matt Thomas Show
with RASS Sports Talk, Sebundy from West Palm Beach, Joe said,
today he doesn't want you to waste pitches that you
get ahead of counts. Now, there is a difference between
wasting pitches and also having a one to two pitch
get away just to have a guy chase. So tell
me until the audience a difference in those two philosophies, man,
I think.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
One of the biggest things I learned last year is
I really have two versions of every pitch. It's the
one that I'm getting there and the one that I'm
trying to get past you. And I really feel like
I think that's what he's talking about, is me embracing
the pitcher that I am when I'm good and trying
to throw more of those pitches to get it past
me and not necessarily just throwing a pitch to throw
(08:03):
a pitch. And he's one hundred percent right. I could
pitch a lot deeper into a lot of ball games
this year just by taking that approach and throwing the
right one in the right count, like the getting there
early so I can have some count leverage, and then
like you said, using the two, using the one two
to try to generate a chase, try to generate a
with and if I don't get it right back to
the aggressive stuff. You know, I think that I had
(08:25):
success doing that last year. I had success when I
was in the zone a bunch, and I think that's
exactly what he's talking about. I think we all know
the potential that I have when I'm throwing the ball
where I want to throw the ball, and that's exactly it.
It's just just being a little bit more aware of
what it is I'm trying to do with that pitch.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We talked a lot last year about you being one
of those guys it loves diving into the numbers and
shapes and spin rates and all that type of stuff.
After a year of a major league experience, are you
more or less are about the same with that stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
I think the scales have kind of tipped in the
other direction just a little bit, and I think that's
healthy for me. I think that my concept of what
made somebody good prior to making my debut, prior to
having that stretch early where I wasn't really having success,
and then finally being able to figure it out around
the midpoint of the season last year, a lot of
my struggles came from having the analytically centered brain, from
(09:14):
thinking to myself that this is my best pitch, so
I need to throw it right here because analytics say
this is my best chance of a swing and miss,
when in reality, I was searching for swing and misses
in the wrong counts against the best hitters in the world.
And that's where you see the walk numbers go up.
That's where you see the era start to inflate a
little bit, just because I'm not doing myself any favors. Really,
(09:34):
and like I said a minute ago, like trying to
get my brain in a place where it's more about
competing than it is about the numbers on the scoreboard.
That's really gone a long way for me. So I
think I'm still definitely all in on analytics. I believe
that that's something that's helped me develop an arsenal that
I can go compete with against the one percent in
this game. And having that having that mental state where
(09:59):
the rubberd it's the road and it's time to go,
and it's time to just compete and not worry about
what's what the track man's saying in the bullpen a
few days ago, that's really where you start to see success.
I think that there's a ton of guys in this
game that have the most elite stuff you can imagine
and really would just benefit from that approach. I think
that a lot of guys watching what we do in
(10:20):
professional baseball, like the data driven training is awesome, it's
really cool, and it's really easy to get hooked on
that and have some identity in that. But when your
identity is the competitor in the arena and that's what's
backing you, like, that's your that's your bas is. I
know I'm nasty on track, man like. It's it's scary,
man Like. You got a lot of confidence, you got
a lot of options, you got a lot of weapons,
and you can just go to work that way.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I don't know if you're gonna be a future broadcaster
or general manager both.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
She's actually making me angry. You can have this nasty stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Off. What is wrong with you? You're twenty five, you
throw mid nineties, you get strikeouts, you've got decent money,
You're a broadcast string already future ahead of you your
general managers.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Let's see what is wrong with me? I can tell
your biggest do you have a quick temper? I do? Yeah.
I think we saw it in Cleveland last year. It's
something I haven't wanted to talk about. But yeah, I
mean my temper flares a little bit when when somebody
hits a nerve. I guess that's a big low point.
I've been doing work on that. I think as a
young player in the game, that's not the best thing
to happen properly. Maybe, yeah, channel it properly is the
(11:25):
right way to sign it. I definitely I heard about
it from some guys that I look up to a
lot that that I should like. You just said, control
that temper a little bit better, kind of channel it
into my game, and what I do it's Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Look, I have a zero sixty on the same thing,
but I quickly forget about it.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, don't listen to I mean, I got I got
road rage. I think that's really like.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
The you're going to see mom and dad on the
Katie Freeway.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Stay away from you. I mean, I'm driving in the
hov Land no matter what. Oh, if you buy yourself
you don't care. I mean, I'm not gonna I'm not
gonna admit that way.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I got sixty seconds here while strikeout truck out blank
person last year, You're like, damn, this is awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Oh that's that goes without saying it's the week's a rise.
That guy doesn't punch out. Yeah, he doesn't punch out.
That is that is so inside baseball. But that's so
good that you said that he doesn't punch out like
that guy. If you you gotta really earn it, Like
Hunter Brown got him to punch out looking last year
and I was impressed. Man, I was like, there is
not a pitch in or around the zone that that
(12:23):
guy won't swing at, and you got him to turn
and not move the bat like that's awesome. I thought
that was cooler. Honestly, all right, real flask question.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
ABS hitters love it because they don't want to be
watching the computer head call the balls and strikes every time.
What is a picture's perspective on it?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Uh, the picture's perspective on it is a little different.
I think there's always been the human element in baseball,
and the umpire is really the regulator there like human
in the fact that like I can I can aim
up and in and miss down away and still get
a call because it's over home plate. So I think
that the ABS is good. I think that it's nice
to have a look in the mirror for umpires also,
(13:00):
because that's that's what we're constantly doing, like we're adjusting
our game, trying to turn to dial it in a
little bit. And I think if you talk to the
umpires that were in TRIPA the last couple of seasons,
it's probably made them tighten the zone up a little bit.
And I don't I think most pitchers don't like it.
I don't like it. Nobody likes pitch into a small zone.
But at the same time, it is it is a
competitive advantage to be able to convince the umpire that
(13:22):
a ball outside of the zone is a strike. We
can all admit that, but it's also been part of
the art of pitching for a long time now, so
it's it's hard to it's hard to accept that that's
kind of seemingly where the game is moving. But it's
also you got to adapt, you know, like that's that's
how we all get paid, that's how we all stay alive,
and this game is making adjustments.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
General podcast answer, We're worried about this.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
This is my my argument is you tell me you
have the ability to get every call right, but we're
not going to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I know, it's so hard, like you're looking at that
and you're like, yeah, that's the most fair version of
the game. But you also have to think, but I.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Would think maybe even a little bit of maybe expand
a slight expansion with full abia.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I think they're so That's the one thing that we
all argue about constantly is there's obviously a gray area
where part of the ball is or appears to be
in zone, and that's where those calls outside of the
zone come from. And it's really like, if I can
be super nasty and make things move super late and
convince the umpire it was there if it wasn't, that's
part of the game. Yep. It's also now part of
(14:22):
the game that if I do that and the hitter
feels that way, they can kind of have that check
and bounce, which I think is good for them. I
know pitchers are nastier, firmer, faster than ever before. Like
that's just that's the direction our game has moved. So
if that's how we continually be competitive, then that is
what it is, and I'll make my adjustment.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
All right, good luck on Sunday, you've already got your
script down. Throw my pitches. I felt good. It was
good to get out there, good to see the guys
behind me. All that's that's why we're leaving. We can't.
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Seilly said that the other day we were doing PFPS
and I'm like, man, it is nice to see the
defense out there behind me. It's nice to know, like
we've got guys working, everybody's everybody's getting back in their rhythm,
and yeah, I'm fired up to get out.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Future seven ninety hosts Spencer Arraghetti with us here on
the Mat Thomas Show. Quick with Ross, but quick time
out come back. We get the news at noon. Andy
Nuonia is athletic director joining us U of H. Spencer,
we really appreciate car you Spence.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
You can call me whatever you want.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thank you for having tell Ben I said my best
You guys know that.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
Listen to the Matt Thomas old Ross. I am out
of our fantasy league because I'm sick of losing and
finishing in sixth place because of terrible defense.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Yeah there's well this one guy. He's really annoying. He's
like back to back to back champion and he just
won't ever shut up. Such an ass.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, So the man, the man, the man replacing
him in our fantasy league will be our next guest,
the product. We got a spot open now he's out
Ranch high school. Look your economic potential. I'm waiting, worried
about you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I'll put the number on our phone. We want to
say it on air. We don't discuss those things on air.
First of all, you can afford it. Yeah, I'm a grinder.
I like Canalytics.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
How many How many leagues are you in?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I was only in one this year, but it was
like an important one. Yeah that's good? Yeah all right,
I mean I like winning money and fantasy that's the
Oh if you're good.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Actually, because he's terrible, sin again, we need somebody week.
All right, I'm gonna tell you he's he's terrible, so
we can't let you in. Actually, I got fourth place
in our league this year. But there were I mean,
there was really one trade I could have made. I'm
kind of kicking myself over it.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Jake, Yeah, man, it was like week four, Week five,
I kind of I was a little bit higher on
Remandre Stevenson than I should have been, and I had
an opportunity to acquire Chase Brown. You know, I think
that could have won me the league. I think that
would have been a difference. So Zach Moss wasn't hurt yet, right,
Zach Moss was not. That's not your fault. I know
it's not my fault. But Brian Thomas Junior was also
(01:24):
in the trade. I was gonna have to sacrifice Dk Metcalf.
I liked Metcalf at the time. I mean, I love
Metcalf as a player. I just wasn't I wasn't thinking
straight week four, you know, I wasn't looking at upside.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Look, all you gotta do is just try to get bett,
go out there and be better next year.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
I'm look to improve. I mean, trade I made some
I made some I made some mistakes not making them.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You know, I don't know if the Bros Are doing
the Fantasy Baseball Draft anymore. But let's ask the question
if you were if I was in a draft, what
roun would I a draft spencer or getting.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
If I was in a draft, I'm probably let's see,
if I'm drafting early in like a ten or twelve man,
I'm probably picking myself like on the cusp of eight,
probably seven eight, if I had to guess.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Your strikeout totals will help us out big time. Yeah,
get some winsts. Walks down, Yeah, walks down, k's up. Yeah,
it's like the whole goal going into the year end.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yes, So I think I think that's a lot to
be excited about as the fantasy baseball manager.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
He is the hero of Single Ranch High School. You know,
hit my main Creek rams, not once, but twice. You
remember that from last year. Thanks for bringing that up.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
I do.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
But I'm in their Wall of Honors, so that's nothing terrible.
I don't know if I'll be in the CINCO while honor,
Oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, school's barely been around.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
You'll be contacted shortly.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
We got one other big leaguer in program history. We
got another one on the way. Probably we're excited about.
But yeah, I sinkle Ranch means a lot to me obviously.
I love I love being from the area and getting
to play for the team. Now, I mean you live
out in Katy now, No, I don't live in Katy anymore.
I live I live closer to the Loop. Now, Yeah,
that would be quite a commute to get to the
stadium every day. That's not much better. No, it's not
(03:03):
at all, not at all better.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
All right, So, uh, I'm looking at the videos of
all the people that were down here. Like Spencer's more mature,
he's got he's got a greater stance on things. He's
he's more confident. I didn't think you were like quiet
and meek when you when we talked to you last year,
I mean, what what's up with that?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I think I just got used to talking more to
you guys. I guess like I did more, did more
media stuff, did more interviews, get a little more comfortable
finding the voice, and uh, it's been fun for me.
I think I enjoyed doing this stuff a lot. And
I last year in camp was definitely intentionally a little
bit less talkative when it was my turn. But I
definitely I can let it fly when it's time.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, we told you when.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
You were on the shut up justin let me tell
you how to pitch. No man, Actually it was I
was hoping for him to tell me the same thing. Actually,
I wish he would have told me to shut up
and how to pitch. You don't have a brother. The
gravy trains off your success to why are you doing this?
That was a stray. Ben. Ben is in our league technically,
so the connections here are crazy. Yeah. Ben had a
(04:05):
great football Ben had a great fantasy football team. Sure
he's great.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
She's wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Oh my god, he's a heck of a Yeah. Right,
I'm sure he's outstanding. I can't wait to visit with
him again.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
What's been the focus for you this offseason we talked.
I mean there's been more mental, more physical, all the above,
as far as you know, going from that guy, not
that you're you know, you're established ten year vet, but
being like you said, starting out and now going and
getting ready for your second year.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Uh, yeah, I think it's it's always both. Spring training
is always both for me. I think it's obviously the
mental aspect of it's kind of just getting back into
the routine, getting back into the into the like kind
of flow of everything. Feeling like I'm on top of
my five day. A lot of the mental stuff this
year is just kind of embracing the readiness to compete.
I think that's always been a part of my game.
It's just like itching for the challenge, itching for that moment.
(04:53):
And obviously this year I'm I'm I'm a little more
welcoming to it. I think last year this time, I
was a little unsure where I was at. Was I
ready for the big leagues? Am I gonna have success
when I get there? Obviously we saw the story right
itself a little bit last year, and it wasn't pretty
right away. But I am. I'm very confident that I
can continue to build off of what I was able
(05:14):
to achieve in the second half last year, and I
think a lot of that centers around me getting my
brain and my body ready right now. I think the
physical aspect of it's the same camp is camp every year.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For me.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I'm just I AM really trying to attack my routine
and then, like I said, just really really preparing the
brain to go out there and fight for it every
time I'm on the bump.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's I asked this to a lot of young players
because it just comes. There had been a turning point.
And I don't know if it was.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
A particular start or where you were, or a.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Bit of advice you got, but you're no in your head,
So there had been something that you want to bring
to the passion here.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, I think I hit on it at FanFest a
little this year. I didn't really get a chance to
talk about that a whole lot last year. You know,
we're in the heat of it, we're trying to we're
trying to make up ground in the division. Right when
I finally started hitting my stride and really the day
that everything changed for me, I actually went to check
myself after I mentioned this at FanFest, but it was
the day that we actually got back to five hundred baseball.
(06:10):
It was it was against the Colorado Rockies at home,
and that was the turning point for me in my head,
because not only did I have a great game, I
mean everything, everything was good, My stuff was great. Mentally,
I'm great, I'm dominant in my brain. That's really where
I had my best days, is where in my head,
like I'm untouchable, I'm in my bubble, I'm in my zone.
(06:31):
And on top of that, like obviously being able to
be the guy on the bump when we started rough
and I was there to witness it, and I was
part of the reason we were struggling and to be
the reason why we were able to flip the script
and be at five hundred at that point in the season.
Was that was a big deal to me. I think
that confidence wise, that kind of propelled me to a
new level in my head where I could be dominant
like I had always been in the past in minor
(06:52):
league ball, in college coming up. And yeah, I think
that really flipped the switch for me. Right there was
just having that one first really really clean, really crisp outing.
I had no walks, I punched a ton, I didn't
give up any runs. It was it was an incredible feeling.
But then the feeling was really only there because of
the stark contrast of the months that were leading up
(07:13):
to that, the real lows that I felt trying to
find myself in the big leagues. And yeah, that day
things really really changed for me.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Spencer Araghetty with this year on the Matt Thomas Show
with RASS Sports Talk, Sebundy from West Palm Beach, Joe said,
today he doesn't want you to waste pitches that you
get ahead of counts. Now, there is a difference between
wasting pitches and also having a one to two pitch
get away just to have a guy chase. So tell
me until the audience a difference in those two philosophies, man,
I think.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
One of the biggest things I learned last year is
I really have two versions of every pitch. It's the
one that I'm getting there and the one that I'm
trying to get past you. And I really feel like
I think that's what he's talking about, is me embracing
the pitcher that I am when I'm good and trying
to throw more of those pitches to get it past
me and not necessarily just throwing a pitch to throw
(08:03):
a pitch. And he's one hundred percent right. I could
pitch a lot deeper into a lot of ball games
this year just by taking that approach and throwing the
right one in the right count, like the getting there
early so I can have some count leverage, and then
like you said, using the two, using the one two
to try to generate a chase, try to generate a
with and if I don't get it right back to
the aggressive stuff. You know, I think that I had
(08:25):
success doing that last year. I had success when I
was in the zone a bunch, and I think that's
exactly what he's talking about. I think we all know
the potential that I have when I'm throwing the ball
where I want to throw the ball, and that's exactly it.
It's just just being a little bit more aware of
what it is I'm trying to do with that pitch.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We talked a lot last year about you being one
of those guys it loves diving into the numbers and
shapes and spin rates and all that type of stuff.
After a year of a major league experience, are you
more or less are about the same with that stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
I think the scales have kind of tipped in the
other direction just a little bit, and I think that's
healthy for me. I think that my concept of what
made somebody good prior to making my debut, prior to
having that stretch early where I wasn't really having success,
and then finally being able to figure it out around
the midpoint of the season last year, a lot of
my struggles came from having the analytically centered brain, from
(09:14):
thinking to myself that this is my best pitch, so
I need to throw it right here because analytics say
this is my best chance of a swing and miss,
when in reality, I was searching for swing and misses
in the wrong counts against the best hitters in the world.
And that's where you see the walk numbers go up.
That's where you see the era start to inflate a
little bit, just because I'm not doing myself any favors. Really,
(09:34):
and like I said a minute ago, like trying to
get my brain in a place where it's more about
competing than it is about the numbers on the scoreboard.
That's really gone a long way for me. So I
think I'm still definitely all in on analytics. I believe
that that's something that's helped me develop an arsenal that
I can go compete with against the one percent in
this game. And having that having that mental state where
(09:59):
the rubberd it's the road and it's time to go,
and it's time to just compete and not worry about
what's what the track man's saying in the bullpen a
few days ago, that's really where you start to see success.
I think that there's a ton of guys in this
game that have the most elite stuff you can imagine
and really would just benefit from that approach. I think
that a lot of guys watching what we do in
(10:20):
professional baseball, like the data driven training is awesome, it's
really cool, and it's really easy to get hooked on
that and have some identity in that. But when your
identity is the competitor in the arena and that's what's
backing you, like, that's your that's your bas is. I
know I'm nasty on track, man like. It's it's scary,
man Like. You got a lot of confidence, you got
a lot of options, you got a lot of weapons,
and you can just go to work that way.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I don't know if you're gonna be a future broadcaster
or general manager both.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
She's actually making me angry. You can have this nasty stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Off. What is wrong with you? You're twenty five, you
throw mid nineties, you get strikeouts, you've got decent money,
You're a broadcast string already future ahead of you your
general managers.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Let's see what is wrong with me? I can tell
your biggest do you have a quick temper? I do? Yeah.
I think we saw it in Cleveland last year. It's
something I haven't wanted to talk about. But yeah, I
mean my temper flares a little bit when when somebody
hits a nerve. I guess that's a big low point.
I've been doing work on that. I think as a
young player in the game, that's not the best thing
to happen properly. Maybe, yeah, channel it properly is the
(11:25):
right way to sign it. I definitely I heard about
it from some guys that I look up to a
lot that that I should like. You just said, control
that temper a little bit better, kind of channel it
into my game, and what I do it's Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Look, I have a zero sixty on the same thing,
but I quickly forget about it.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Yeah, don't listen to I mean, I got I got
road rage. I think that's really like.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
The you're going to see mom and dad on the
Katie Freeway.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Stay away from you. I mean, I'm driving in the
hov Land no matter what. Oh, if you buy yourself
you don't care. I mean, I'm not gonna I'm not
gonna admit that way.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I got sixty seconds here while strikeout truck out blank
person last year, You're like, damn, this is awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Oh that's that goes without saying it's the week's a rise.
That guy doesn't punch out. Yeah, he doesn't punch out.
That is that is so inside baseball. But that's so
good that you said that he doesn't punch out like
that guy. If you you gotta really earn it, Like
Hunter Brown got him to punch out looking last year
and I was impressed. Man, I was like, there is
not a pitch in or around the zone that that
(12:23):
guy won't swing at, and you got him to turn
and not move the bat like that's awesome. I thought
that was cooler. Honestly, all right, real flask question.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
ABS hitters love it because they don't want to be
watching the computer head call the balls and strikes every time.
What is a picture's perspective on it?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Uh, the picture's perspective on it is a little different.
I think there's always been the human element in baseball,
and the umpire is really the regulator there like human
in the fact that like I can I can aim
up and in and miss down away and still get
a call because it's over home plate. So I think
that the ABS is good. I think that it's nice
to have a look in the mirror for umpires also,
(13:00):
because that's that's what we're constantly doing, like we're adjusting
our game, trying to turn to dial it in a
little bit. And I think if you talk to the
umpires that were in TRIPA the last couple of seasons,
it's probably made them tighten the zone up a little bit.
And I don't I think most pitchers don't like it.
I don't like it. Nobody likes pitch into a small zone.
But at the same time, it is it is a
competitive advantage to be able to convince the umpire that
(13:22):
a ball outside of the zone is a strike. We
can all admit that, but it's also been part of
the art of pitching for a long time now, so
it's it's hard to it's hard to accept that that's
kind of seemingly where the game is moving. But it's
also you got to adapt, you know, like that's that's
how we all get paid, that's how we all stay alive,
and this game is making adjustments.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
General podcast answer, We're worried about this.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
This is my my argument is you tell me you
have the ability to get every call right, but we're
not going to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I know, it's so hard, like you're looking at that
and you're like, yeah, that's the most fair version of
the game. But you also have to think, but I.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Would think maybe even a little bit of maybe expand
a slight expansion with full abia.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I think they're so That's the one thing that we
all argue about constantly is there's obviously a gray area
where part of the ball is or appears to be
in zone, and that's where those calls outside of the
zone come from. And it's really like, if I can
be super nasty and make things move super late and
convince the umpire it was there if it wasn't, that's
part of the game. Yep. It's also now part of
(14:22):
the game that if I do that and the hitter
feels that way, they can kind of have that check
and bounce, which I think is good for them. I
know pitchers are nastier, firmer, faster than ever before. Like
that's just that's the direction our game has moved. So
if that's how we continually be competitive, then that is
what it is, and I'll make my adjustment.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
All right, good luck on Sunday, you've already got your
script down. Throw my pitches. I felt good. It was
good to get out there, good to see the guys
behind me. All that's that's why we're leaving. We can't.
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Seilly said that the other day we were doing PFPS
and I'm like, man, it is nice to see the
defense out there behind me. It's nice to know, like
we've got guys working, everybody's everybody's getting back in their rhythm,
and yeah, I'm fired up to get out.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Future seven ninety hosts Spencer Arraghetti with us here on
the Mat Thomas Show. Quick with Ross, but quick time
out come back. We get the news at noon. Andy
Nuonia is athletic director joining us U of H. Spencer,
we really appreciate car you Spence.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
You can call me whatever you want.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thank you for having tell Ben I said my best
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