Yeah, you played it.

And, uh, you know, the fans were involved, but you could see the guys growing.

You know, we got, we got kids playing, you know? And this is, I know they played a few years ago in Kansas City, but to come to Fenway and clinch it is amazing.

And, uh, this, this was a, a learning experience, and it's gonna help us the rest of the season.

Yeah.

I'm like, "Hey, you got one more at bat, let's freaking go.

You know, let's go." And I mean, his approach is perfect, you know? And, uh, he's done an outstanding job for us.

Defensively, he, he was amazing tonight.

Mm-hmm

...

this is all we know.

Um, Dad was also involved in winter ball with the Cabos Criollos.

He was, he was involved in sports.

He was, uh, used to work for two newspapers in the island.

Um, one that is not running anymore, the San Juan Star.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm

...

this is all we know.

Um, Dad was also involved in winter ball with the Caguas Criollos.

He was, he was involved in sports.

He was, uh, used to work for two newspapers in the island.

Um, one that is not running anymore, the San Juan Star.

Yeah

That's pretty good.

That's pretty good.

And that was a bad season, right? So I mean, if he shows up here and plays like he did last year, he's gonna help us win games.

The one thing about him, he got here in '21, so he's been through everything here.

He was a backup player in '21.

He was part of the roster spot or in the wild card game, so he saw the, the good days, and then he saw the bad days.

And now that we were able to take that step forward, we got better.

They w- they're gonna play defense.

Have you done long-distance running? Are you into that, or did you just decide to do it?

No, um, I, I made a commitment to my health a wh- uh, three years ago.

Uh, I, I wasn't feeling great.

I was looking big and, uh, you know, as a family, uh, we got boy twins.

At that time, they were six, they're eight now, and, uh, you know, you wanna...

You wanna be there for them.

And, uh, we started running.

What were you feeling as you were watching it, and then why was that so significant to you personally?

Yeah.

When we go- w- when I go to Anaheim, we'll do it again.

But sure enough, fast forward to the Red Sox trip, the next one, that they had to Anaheim, and who was there? None other than Alex Cora back in the jungle telling us how much of a badass his ace is.

The season ends today.

You know who's pitching tomorrow in game one of the wild card series? It's Garrett Crochet, uh, one of the best lefties in the Big Leagues, one of the best pitchers in the Big Leagues, a guy that, uh, goes deep into the game, and, uh, pass the baton to the bullpen.

So, uh, do we have to improve? Of course.

But are we capable of playing, uh, good baseball in October? We are, but, uh, let's take care of things first, you know? Uh, we're in a position that, yeah, we- we- we got a wild card, but we have to think more.

[laughs]

...

he was, uh...

I mean, w- I played 13 years in the big leagues, have managed, what, six or seven, was a bench coach for one, and I have seen guys that their work ethic has been outstanding.

Um, others, they perform at the big league level because they were talented.

Man, this guy is a combination of both.

Um, just the way he goes about his business i- is second to none.

What do you see, not his ceiling, but what do you see him doing next year? Because the future is very bright, but what do you see him doing for this team in a new role that he's gonna need to take for you guys to make it to the series?

A team that can not only play in October, but make a deep run in October? Does it feel like that kind of team?

team?Um, I'd be lying to you if I say 100%.

The theme that we have is a number one.

We got a number one, Garrett Crochet.

And, uh, I was, uh, doing an interview earlier today, and they were talking about, ah, the playoff odds, whatever.

I say, "Well, if the season ends today, you know who's pitching tomorrow in game one of the wild card series is Garrett Crochet." Uh, one of the best lefties in the big leagues, one of the best pitchers in the big leagues.

A guy that, uh, goes deep into the game, and, uh, pass the baton to the bullpen.

Given how quickly he moved through the minors, what do you make of the way he's handled all the hype and expectations of being such a highly touted prospect, and frankly, being a highly touted prospect in that organization in that town?

What's he been like so far, and what do you make of his transition to the AL because he's making it look pretty easy?

Yeah, refreshing, to be honest with you.

Um, I always tell him that, uh, he caught my attention in game three of the 2018 World Series.

Uh, as you know, we had a pretty good team, uh, and, uh, in game three in LA, he just demolished us.

He was amazing, you know, uh, the usage, the pitchability, uh, you know, he, he had it, and, uh, he caught my attention throughout the years, always paying attention from afar, what he's doing.

Last year in October, he was great.

What he did in game five of the World Series, coming out of the bullpen to save the game, uh, not too many guys do that, right? Especially in the situation he was in.

What has he brought to the team, both on the field and in the clubhouse?

Erm, Alex Cora knows ball, knows Slot, knows Klopp, knows Virg, here's a taste.

You gotta be physical, you know, to do the things that Mo does.

I hate comparing guys, I hate comparing, like, players, but what he has done is very LeBron James-like.

Kinda like, "I can do mine, I can score, but I can make my teammates better." And that's what he's done, right? The assists and the goals, i- it's been a, a once-in-a-lifetime season, right? He kills you with kindness too.

He's always smiling and this and that.

You see it on Instagram and whatever.

But he's a, he's a tough s- sonar (beep) on the- on the- on the pitch.

(laughs)

Christian Pulisic scored that day.

Yes.

So, uh, I watched that one.

The next day, we went to Liverpool with Tom, and then Linda and John met us over there.

Big fan of Pep Guardiola from afar.

Big fan of him.

It's interesting because I know what I do for a living, right? And I have won a World Series champion as a manager, but watching him from the bench, I was like, "Oh my God, that's Pep." I was, like, starstruck.

Ian Graham, the famous data scientist who built the data models that powered the resurgence of Liverpool for FSG, in his book, Graham says, "If there was a World Cup of silence, John Henry would get to the semifinals at least." Can you describe what John Henry's like and how you interact?