May 9, 2025 • 9 mins
Tacoma Rainiers catcher Harry Ford joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to discuss being in Tacoma now, his offensive numbers this year, his adjustment to AAA, Spring Training with the Mariners under Dan Wilson, his future position, and his recent mission.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'll tell you what what do you say? We just
keep it right here because joining us right now on
the radio show How you doing? Bosco to see you
Softy Dick fang A and throw those headphones on right there,
those on it. We are looking at the future right
in front of us, the future of Mariner baseball. Guy
looks good for the first time getting a chance to
see him in person. Everyone keeps talking about this guy.
I figure out, Hell, let's put him on the air
for crying out loud. Harry Ford Radier's catcher is with us.
(00:23):
How are you man?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Doing good?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Good? That's great to see us.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So tell me about for a kid who I believe
grew up in the state of Georgia, right coming all
the way across the country to the PNW in Tacoba, Washington,
what's this experience been.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Like for you? Man?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's been really nice. I love the place. The people
here are awesome. But being in Washington is honestly really cool.
It's really far away from home, but it's a it's
a cool experience. I love the nature and the people.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's great to go good. Well, We're glad you're having fun.
By the way, I'm looking at these main numbers.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I'm seeing three sixty four with a nine hundred ops
in the month of May. So what has been working
for veray Ford this month?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Did you know that?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
By the way, No, I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Okay, what has been what has been working?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I don't know. I guess been hitting the ball good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Ye Are you a superstitious guy when it comes to numbers,
because some people don't want to know those numbers, right.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I mean I don't like digging into it, but like
I don't like if I hear it, don't bother met
you on every scoreboard?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well it it feels just to kind of back up
with Dick said that you're getting very comfortable right, uh,
with yourself at this level of baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
When you came here.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
How much of a transition was there from Double A
to what you're seeing now in Triple A.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It hasn't been the biggest transition. It's I think just
the floor has definitely raised, Like there's everyone here is
really really talented and they deserve to be here. And
obviously you get a lot of vets, a lot of
guys who have MLB time and things. But it's definitely
the level hasn't like necessarily raised a whole lot from
(01:55):
like the ceiling. From the ceiling, it wasn't double a
but just as a whole you know, a lot more talent.
I've talked about it.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Talk about what spring training was like under Dan Wilson
and Edgar and Kevin Sites are compared to what you
went through last year with the prior regime.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, I've I've loved every spring training I've had. This
spring training was definitely really cool. Dan's been a guy
who's been with me since I first got drafted, So
he's been one of our special assistants and he always
comes to visits and helps, especially me as a catcher. Right,
He's put so much time into me over the years
(02:32):
and again to see him as a manager now and
kind of having a really personal connection with him has
been It was so awesome. I loved loved him being
it and Sites is just amazing. Mags our other hitting
coach too. They had such a huge impact on me
during spring training, so I love them all.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
They're great.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, Dan kind of knows what he's talking about when
it comes to catching, by the way, the major leagues,
just in case you didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But he's been fun.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Aled, But Harry Ford is with us on the radio show,
and let me go back to that for a second,
because you've been, for the most part when you do
play the field exclusively catching DH right every now and then.
You may have noticed, though, there's a guy named Cal
up on the Big League Ross.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
He's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, who let the league and games caught last year,
and I think led the American League or vice versa
in games caught two years ago. So when you think
about your future with this ball club, do you think
about it as a catcher, do you think about it
as a d H or do you think about it
at all?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
And just go out and do your damn thing? Man?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, I mean I my big thing is I put
my faith into a bigger plan. Yeah, and I feel
like God has a great plan for me, no matter what,
no matter what team that is, no matter what, whatever
who it is. You know, Cal's an awesome, awesome dude.
You know, he is great. He's been so great to
me and great to learn from. I would love to
(03:53):
be able to catch with him. I would love if
he's gotching. If I'm catching, you know, it's it's not
in my control. So I just keep playing ball and
just keep.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Have they have they talked to you meeting the big
league club Jerry Justin whoever? Have they talked to you
about kind of what their vision is for you? Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
No, no that we we haven't had a conversation about
that or nothing. Just yeah, just playing got it?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
How about the you know, we've talked a lot about
the Mariner's approach at the plate that has been different, Right,
how much is that talked about down here versus I
mean obviously was talked about it in spring training?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Is that continue?
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Is the Mariner approach at the plate, getting on baits back,
hitting back up the middle? Is that hammered home here
like it is at T Mobile Parker?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah? We uh, you know spring training? They definitely it
is a new philosophy, not really new philosophy, but just
a very certain focus on how we do VP and
how we uh situations in the game and stuff like that.
But so we we take up we take all the
same things as we were doing all spring training, and
our coaches have the dot to the same thing.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
So can you give us an example of maybe the differences,
Like you said, it was very different, Like what are
you drills or what the thought process, what was different
than what you had under.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
The prior So, I mean last year we were just
it was just normal VP. You know, you take four rounds,
five rounds, whatever it is. Yeah, but now the way
we do it is like our first our first round
is middle opo, So first five to seven swings, you're
just trying to go middle opo. And then the next
round is a situation round, which is hit and run
and field in and filled out, get them over, send one,
(05:33):
you know. So we do those those first two rounds
every day and then the next two rounds or whatever
you want. But it kind of translates and gets you
thinking in the game of you know, okay, this is
a situation not just I'm just swinging, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Right, Well, you mentioned kind of being part of a
part of a bigger plan.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
It sounds like you're kind of a spiritual guy, right,
there's no question about that. And we had heard through
the grapevine that you took a mission somewhere early.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
In your in your life. Tell me about that where
you went, what you did.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, so last last year, at the end of the year,
went to Peru on a mission trip of water.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
By the way down there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
No, Yeah, yeah, I went to went to Peru on
a water Mission trip. It was really amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So what water mission does. There's there're a group who
goes to different countries in different places and tries to
help in the global water crisis. There are about two
billion people right now who are suffering from not having
what's done as safe water, which is water water that
is just not contaminated and have parasites in it. Sure,
so they they go these countries and help bring safe water,
(06:38):
but also try to help them bring the living water,
which is Jesus. And uh so it's it's it's helping
them in two facets, you know, the spiritual and with
what their real needs, what they what they have, what
they don't have, and uh so it was really awesome
getting to, uh just be a part of it seeing
what they do do.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I hear right that you are actually donating money every
time you go long is that correct? Hundred dollars hundred
bucks every time? And how many bombs you got so
far this year? By the way, you got one? Okay, well,
let's let's kind of get that going here and raise
the money for trying out that.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Right now, little Birdie tolds you were a musician too,
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I mean I would. I don't know if I classify
myself as a musician, but I try.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
What do you play right now?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I like playing guitar?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Wow? Cool?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I have a saxophone that I can play, but I
like guitar a lot more.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
You sing too when you're playing guitar, for sure? Nice?
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You want to sing for us right now in the air.
You gotta get him a guitar, man, I mean, why not?
It's live radio, if it's baseball thing don't work out,
we'll get your record contract, if I'll get on a
record contract.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But hopefully baseball lasts a little longer.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Absolutely well, Harry Ford, before you go, I'm looking at
this list of the top prospects in the minor leags
system right and there's there's six of them so far,
and I wonder how much of a friendly almost competition
there is between all you guys like you and Cole
Young and Emerson and last Montest you got, you know, Farmelo.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Do you guys talk at all about that stuff?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Because right now you're fifty ninth, and if I'm Cole
Young or like, what's up fifty nine?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Right?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I'm just kind of going after you talking a little smack.
How much do you guys talk about that stuff?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I mean, it doesn't I don't really talk about it much. Yeah,
I mean we've had rankings on us since we were
like fourteen fifteen, right, yeah, So, I mean it's it's
not like it's something new. But the whole the whole
deal is just trying to get to the big leagues,
try out the team, and also be a good teammate
here and try to, you know, help each other get there.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Do you feel like you're ready now for that jump?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
If they called you up today and said, Harry, be
honest with me, are you ready to make this jump
tonight and get in the lineup against the Blue Jays
or the Yankees on Monday?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What do you say for sure?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Be ready? Okay?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Good, Yeah, I'm playing the same baseball game I'll played
down here.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You get right now? You dream about what that day
is going to be like. Oh man, I dream about it.
What it's like for you, by the way.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I mean, it definitely crosses your mind.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
You know, I've jumped of playing in the big LEAs
as a kid, for sure, And I mean, like I
don't I don't know what it would be like. I
would just hope that both my parents were able to
make it. Yeah, sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
We'll just do us a favor when that call finally comes,
before you call your mom and dad, call us and
let us know.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Okay, all right, y'all will be third and fourth. That works.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Best of luck man, good to meet you. All right,
go get it, good luck. That's Harry Ford with us
on the radio show. We're gonna break a lot more
to get to from Takoba. We'll get to our bracket
next on ninety three three kJ R f M
I'll tell you what what do you say? We just
keep it right here because joining us right now on
the radio show How you doing? Bosco to see you
Softy Dick fang A and throw those headphones on right there,
those on it. We are looking at the future right
in front of us, the future of Mariner baseball. Guy
looks good for the first time getting a chance to
see him in person. Everyone keeps talking about this guy.
I figure out, Hell, let's put him on the air
for crying out loud. Harry Ford Radier's catcher is with us.
(00:23):
How are you man?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Doing good?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Good? That's great to see us.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So tell me about for a kid who I believe
grew up in the state of Georgia, right coming all
the way across the country to the PNW in Tacoba, Washington,
what's this experience been.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Like for you? Man?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's been really nice. I love the place. The people
here are awesome. But being in Washington is honestly really cool.
It's really far away from home, but it's a it's
a cool experience. I love the nature and the people.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's great to go good. Well, We're glad you're having fun.
By the way, I'm looking at these main numbers.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I'm seeing three sixty four with a nine hundred ops
in the month of May. So what has been working
for veray Ford this month?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Did you know that?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
By the way, No, I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Okay, what has been what has been working?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I don't know. I guess been hitting the ball good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Ye Are you a superstitious guy when it comes to numbers,
because some people don't want to know those numbers, right.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I mean I don't like digging into it, but like
I don't like if I hear it, don't bother met
you on every scoreboard?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well it it feels just to kind of back up
with Dick said that you're getting very comfortable right, uh,
with yourself at this level of baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
When you came here.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
How much of a transition was there from Double A
to what you're seeing now in Triple A.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It hasn't been the biggest transition. It's I think just
the floor has definitely raised, Like there's everyone here is
really really talented and they deserve to be here. And
obviously you get a lot of vets, a lot of
guys who have MLB time and things. But it's definitely
the level hasn't like necessarily raised a whole lot from
(01:55):
like the ceiling. From the ceiling, it wasn't double a
but just as a whole you know, a lot more talent.
I've talked about it.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Talk about what spring training was like under Dan Wilson
and Edgar and Kevin Sites are compared to what you
went through last year with the prior regime.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, I've I've loved every spring training I've had. This
spring training was definitely really cool. Dan's been a guy
who's been with me since I first got drafted, So
he's been one of our special assistants and he always
comes to visits and helps, especially me as a catcher. Right,
He's put so much time into me over the years
(02:32):
and again to see him as a manager now and
kind of having a really personal connection with him has
been It was so awesome. I loved loved him being
it and Sites is just amazing. Mags our other hitting
coach too. They had such a huge impact on me
during spring training, so I love them all.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
They're great.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, Dan kind of knows what he's talking about when
it comes to catching, by the way, the major leagues,
just in case you didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But he's been fun.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Aled, But Harry Ford is with us on the radio show,
and let me go back to that for a second,
because you've been, for the most part when you do
play the field exclusively catching DH right every now and then.
You may have noticed, though, there's a guy named Cal
up on the Big League Ross.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
He's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, who let the league and games caught last year,
and I think led the American League or vice versa
in games caught two years ago. So when you think
about your future with this ball club, do you think
about it as a catcher, do you think about it
as a d H or do you think about it
at all?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
And just go out and do your damn thing? Man?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, I mean I my big thing is I put
my faith into a bigger plan. Yeah, and I feel
like God has a great plan for me, no matter what,
no matter what team that is, no matter what, whatever
who it is. You know, Cal's an awesome, awesome dude.
You know, he is great. He's been so great to
me and great to learn from. I would love to
(03:53):
be able to catch with him. I would love if
he's gotching. If I'm catching, you know, it's it's not
in my control. So I just keep playing ball and
just keep.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Have they have they talked to you meeting the big
league club Jerry Justin whoever? Have they talked to you
about kind of what their vision is for you? Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
No, no that we we haven't had a conversation about
that or nothing. Just yeah, just playing got it?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
How about the you know, we've talked a lot about
the Mariner's approach at the plate that has been different, Right,
how much is that talked about down here versus I
mean obviously was talked about it in spring training?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Is that continue?
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Is the Mariner approach at the plate, getting on baits back,
hitting back up the middle? Is that hammered home here
like it is at T Mobile Parker?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah? We uh, you know spring training? They definitely it
is a new philosophy, not really new philosophy, but just
a very certain focus on how we do VP and
how we uh situations in the game and stuff like that.
But so we we take up we take all the
same things as we were doing all spring training, and
our coaches have the dot to the same thing.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
So can you give us an example of maybe the differences,
Like you said, it was very different, Like what are
you drills or what the thought process, what was different
than what you had under.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
The prior So, I mean last year we were just
it was just normal VP. You know, you take four rounds,
five rounds, whatever it is. Yeah, but now the way
we do it is like our first our first round
is middle opo, So first five to seven swings, you're
just trying to go middle opo. And then the next
round is a situation round, which is hit and run
and field in and filled out, get them over, send one,
(05:33):
you know. So we do those those first two rounds
every day and then the next two rounds or whatever
you want. But it kind of translates and gets you
thinking in the game of you know, okay, this is
a situation not just I'm just swinging, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Right, Well, you mentioned kind of being part of a
part of a bigger plan.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
It sounds like you're kind of a spiritual guy, right,
there's no question about that. And we had heard through
the grapevine that you took a mission somewhere early.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
In your in your life. Tell me about that where
you went, what you did.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, so last last year, at the end of the year,
went to Peru on a mission trip of water.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
By the way down there.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
No, Yeah, yeah, I went to went to Peru on
a water Mission trip. It was really amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So what water mission does. There's there're a group who
goes to different countries in different places and tries to
help in the global water crisis. There are about two
billion people right now who are suffering from not having
what's done as safe water, which is water water that
is just not contaminated and have parasites in it. Sure,
so they they go these countries and help bring safe water,
(06:38):
but also try to help them bring the living water,
which is Jesus. And uh so it's it's it's helping
them in two facets, you know, the spiritual and with
what their real needs, what they what they have, what
they don't have, and uh so it was really awesome
getting to, uh just be a part of it seeing
what they do do.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I hear right that you are actually donating money every
time you go long is that correct? Hundred dollars hundred
bucks every time? And how many bombs you got so
far this year? By the way, you got one? Okay, well,
let's let's kind of get that going here and raise
the money for trying out that.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Right now, little Birdie tolds you were a musician too,
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I mean I would. I don't know if I classify
myself as a musician, but I try.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
What do you play right now?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I like playing guitar?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Wow? Cool?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I have a saxophone that I can play, but I
like guitar a lot more.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
You sing too when you're playing guitar, for sure? Nice?
Speaker 1 (07:32):
You want to sing for us right now in the air.
You gotta get him a guitar, man, I mean, why not?
It's live radio, if it's baseball thing don't work out,
we'll get your record contract, if I'll get on a
record contract.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But hopefully baseball lasts a little longer.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Absolutely well, Harry Ford, before you go, I'm looking at
this list of the top prospects in the minor leags
system right and there's there's six of them so far,
and I wonder how much of a friendly almost competition
there is between all you guys like you and Cole
Young and Emerson and last Montest you got, you know, Farmelo.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Do you guys talk at all about that stuff?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Because right now you're fifty ninth, and if I'm Cole
Young or like, what's up fifty nine?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Right?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I'm just kind of going after you talking a little smack.
How much do you guys talk about that stuff?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I mean, it doesn't I don't really talk about it much. Yeah,
I mean we've had rankings on us since we were
like fourteen fifteen, right, yeah, So, I mean it's it's
not like it's something new. But the whole the whole
deal is just trying to get to the big leagues,
try out the team, and also be a good teammate
here and try to, you know, help each other get there.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Do you feel like you're ready now for that jump?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
If they called you up today and said, Harry, be
honest with me, are you ready to make this jump
tonight and get in the lineup against the Blue Jays
or the Yankees on Monday?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What do you say for sure?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Be ready? Okay?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Good, Yeah, I'm playing the same baseball game I'll played
down here.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You get right now? You dream about what that day
is going to be like. Oh man, I dream about it.
What it's like for you, by the way.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I mean, it definitely crosses your mind.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
You know, I've jumped of playing in the big LEAs
as a kid, for sure, And I mean, like I
don't I don't know what it would be like. I
would just hope that both my parents were able to
make it. Yeah, sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
We'll just do us a favor when that call finally comes,
before you call your mom and dad, call us and
let us know.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Okay, all right, y'all will be third and fourth. That works.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Best of luck man, good to meet you. All right,
go get it, good luck. That's Harry Ford with us
on the radio show. We're gonna break a lot more
to get to from Takoba. We'll get to our bracket
next on ninety three three kJ R f M
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