Yankees Ace Cam Schlittler on Elite Rotation, Motivation, and Facing Red Sox

Welcome to On Base. I am your host, Mookie Bets. And today we have a 2026 Allstar, AL All-Star, the AL leader in ERA and a Yankee starting pitcher, Cam Schlitler. How you doing, bro? I'm good. Thanks for having me. Thanks for coming on the show, man. Do you uh do you like to do podcasts or is this like a thing that this like a first or you know what we uh I haven't done many. I think some people have asked that I've been open to just kind of haven't found the time. So, it's kind of pumped to come on here. Well, thanks for finding the time, man. That means a lot. All right, before we get into uh talking about Cam, we got a game called Make the Call.

Um, from my experience, pitchers are terrible at ABS. Oh, yeah. So, uh, we had Miz on here and he wasn't very good. Um, so I think you're the second pitcher to do this and, uh, so we'll see how it goes. We'll see if, uh, if my theory holds true. So, what will happen is we're going to show a pitch and you choose uh ball or strike and if you get it wrong, you got some questions over here to answer. All right. All I'm 0 for one in game, so we'll see. We're going to talk about that, too. All right. Let's Let's run the tape. Uh, a little chuckle, right? That means you have no idea.

I mean, I feel like for some reason it clipped. So, you're calling ball a strike? I'm calling a strike. Calling strike. Okay, let's see it. Ball. Damn. 0 for one. Oh, that's a close one. It is close. That is very close, but it's a ball. Yep. At the end of the day, it's still a ball. Which teammate would win a reality TV show? It's a good question. Probably Clark Schmidt. Why do you say that? Huge character guy. Oh, okay. Yeah. So, the why would he win a like what would he do?

I don't know. One, he's got good style, swag. Yeah, he's got good swag. I think that's how he came up. Um, and then he's just a dude. Good personality, like good like social like character. Like I feel like he'd be able to handle that pretty well. Oh, nice. We may have to get to know Clark Schmidt. Shout out to you Clark for the swag. Okay, so uh pitch number two. I'm gonna say strike. strike high curve ball. All right, there you go. One for two. The best we've had is uh three for five.

Okay, so you're on your way. All right. Yeah, that's the high curve ball is a classic. High curve ball. Yeah, that tends to clip a lot. Okay, so next pitch. I'll go with ball. might be a little off. Got him. Well, you got to get all the rest of them right, buddy. But first, answer one of these. What's your weirdest baseball superstition? I think that I have to nap probably before every start. You have to. I just feel like I got to get it in, especially at home because we got some nice nap rooms.

Okay. So, is that because you don't sleep at night before? I sleep really well. I just feel like when I show up at like 1:00 and have like, you know, six hours to hang out, you know, I kind of just want to get down for about 30 45 minutes and I kind of So even on start day, you get there at 1:00. Yeah, you got the meetings usually around two. So it's it's a long day. Okay. So you get to have the meetings and then during your chill time, nap. What if you don't take a nap? Still be good. It just makes me feel better about myself. Okay. So make sure you take a nap. Okay. Uh I think we got a couple more.

You called it earlier. Blackburn. Yeah. High curve ball. I know. The high curve ball. We'll go ball. That one looked a little high. Yeah. There you go. I mean, it's still what 2 off 0.1. Yeah. It's crazy. Good for you. Okay. So, you got one more to at least tie the record. Okay. Yeah. See if we can do it. ball down. Yeah. Off. I think it's off. Nice. Okay. Down. Nice. Okay. Well, maybe you're a little better than you. You know what I'm saying? You have one this year, right? You like you said earlier that you challenged.

Yep. And was it close? I don't even know. I was begging for a strike. Yeah. I was begging for one. And now you say you're not going to do it anymore, right? Yeah. I mean, I'd prefer not. I feel like again, they frame it so well that just like by the time it's in the mid, like it looks like a strike and it's it's not. So, I'll let them do that. So, was this your thinking behind it or was it uh Boon saying something or Wy saying something? I mean, he gave me [__] for the terrible uh challenge, but I mean, again, like just the situation I was in, I didn't think it was probably not the best time to use one.

So, just not a good challenge. So, you just did it for to yourself. You bang it to yourself. Yeah. Nice. Okay. Yeah. I would definitely say leave that up to the catch%. The catchers are the best. Oh, yeah. Okay. So, let's let's get into a little bit about Cam. Um, and the Yankees. Obviously, you guys have a great rotation with Freed, Cole, Rodon, yourself, um, you know, all the other Warren, all of you guys really. What's it like uh being with Cole and Rodon and th those uh those vets, you know, having them as your mentors? Yeah, it's great. Obviously, when I came up last year, you know, Garrett was still hurt, so it was mostly Max and

Carlos and they were great. Um I was able to learn a lot from them, you know. What do you feel like you've learned? Like what did you ask them? It's tough coming up and it's like a very, you know, older team, you know, like there's not a lot of young guys around. So, I feel like there's a certain way you got to do things, especially being a rookie. So, um, they were what kind of guide me, you know, kind of even just like simple stuff like schedule, like when I can get work done, like stuff like that, and when's the right time, when's not. So, when it came to the pitching side, like, you know, again, I'd throw the first inning, you know, they'd

be down there, you know, after the first inning, and if they had something to say, you know, great. And if not, then they let me do what I need to do. But, and they're really good about like staying, you know, involved in the game and kind of watching it closely. And again, if they had opinions, I was always open to hearing that. Even during the game, like typically pitchers while they're pitching, don't really want to do a whole lot of talking or whatever, unless it's about the game, you know, with the catcher or the pitching coach. Do you talk to them and do you listen to them midame even, you know, even while you're pitching?

Yeah, I think obviously on your start day, you're not you're probably not talking that much, right? you know, before that. Um, when you're out there, you know, you don't really see things as clear. I feel like you might have a very good game plan, but sometimes you won't see those adjustments. At least I haven't. And just because sometimes it takes a little bit more experience, something I'm learning on. But, you know, I come down there and they see something that maybe I don't see. Like, I'm always appreciative of kind of hearing that information out and seeing if I can, you know, make that adjustment second time through. Do you feel like when they tell you something, you need to run it by the coaches or run it by WZY or whatever or like when

they tell you something, it's like I implement it right there. Usually the coaches are there. Okay. It kind of just becomes a discussion, but for the most part, you know, they're pretty right on and the coaches are with that stuff. And Garrett Cole now, he's back. He's pitching. I'm assuming he's watching, you know, every pitch you throw and he's a master at making adjustments and all those type of things. What's like the best piece of advice he's he's given you? I think the best piece of advice at least or something that stuck with you the most. I think so. I had a tough one against the Tigers. It's a few weeks ago.

Um just didn't get the ball where I was supposed to, but you know, I walk in after and he's like, "Congrats. You know, you let up six runs. you know, me and Carlos have done that probably 20 times or whatever it is. And it's just like, you know, this game will humble you, you know, and it just there's it's a long season and you're going to have those outings. It's really just how you bounce back from those things, you know, from those bad outings that really defines, you know, a pitcher. So, Right. Again, [snorts] like they're very supportive and uh that, you know, they'll definitely mess around with stuff like that. And Will Warren mentioned uh that you guys try and outdo each other. Not you, but the whole rotation like try and

outdo each other each time going out. Is that is there truth to that? I think so. I mean, I try not to personally think about it like that. You know, I feel like again, we've had a lot of injuries. You know, I think the biggest thing is obviously just staying on the field, but it's always fun to have that little bit of competition. I'm just trying to go out there, get a quality start in and put us in a position to win really. You guys got any money on it or you got like a little We got a little pot. I mean, we have like a pot for like our pitchers meetings and stuff. Like, you show up late, you gota throw money in there. Um, so how do you win the pot?

We haven't gone that far yet. I know the hitters pot is way more um stable. Like sometimes I'll throw money in the hitters pot for, you know, certain series, but um we could do a little bit better, I think, in the pitcher pot. So, you guys got a pot of money and there's no way to win it. There probably is. I just don't remember. Well, I don't know what it goes to at the end of the season. Like how do you win the money then if you don't know how? I don't know. Either it goes to something we can buy or something. I really don't remember. But there's not much in the picture.

We're going to have to get you We're going to have to figure out how to I'm going to have to go there and ask. Yeah. Something. Okay. So, if you I want to I want you to build a five pitch arsenal. Five pitches. All right. Using anybody's pitches in the league, though. You got to keep one of your own. All right. So, what pitch of your own would you keep? I'll probably Let's keep the cutter. We'll keep the All right. We're keeping your cutter. Okay. So, what about fastball? Whose fast ball uh would you want?

The Mizes, obviously. Okay. So, you got Miz's fastball, your cutter. Okay. What about sinker? Uh, Michael King. Oh, nice. Good call. Michael King sinker. Your cutter misses fastball. What about a slider sweeper situation? I really like Warren sweeper. Okay, so you got nothing. It's like 20 inches. 20 of Yeah. horizontal. It's crazy. Okay. So, uh you got Warren Sweeper. What about change up? Change up or split or change up or split? I mean, I would say Cruz is split, but we'll go with you Savage. We'll go with this split.

Oh, nice. I don't see how maybe I'm biased. It's weird. The arm slot. Yes, it is. It's all the arm slot. It's crazy. But maybe I'm biased. I don't see how Yamamoto splitter does not get picked. It's 92. Yeah, it's a good one. Even uh Suzaki. Yeah, that thing was crazy. I was like, what is this? He was sitting 102. Oh my god. 90. Yeah, whatever. Okay, so that's five. You got uh Ms. Fastball. your cutter. Um, King Sinker, Warren's sweeper, and your savages change up. Uh, splitter. Maybe one day you can uh that'll be you. We'll see.

I tried to uh going into 25, I think, or 24. I just like couldn't pronate it really. We'll see. Splitter. Yeah, it was tough. Like I had a change up in the minors, but like I don't know. Right now it's just not there. I don't think you need it. I think you're doing just fine. Uh and then you know Josh Hart tweeted about you uh should win the Sai Young. What does that mean to you to see like other New York athletes um a watch baseball and b are supportive of you? Yeah, I know Josh and Jaylen love baseball. So um I met Josh. I was introduced, you know, after the first playoff game. Um he's a great guy. So again, it's a long season. you know, there's a long way to go, but you know, I appreciate the support from

him and those guys. And, uh, and Jaylen was at the game yesterday. Oh, yeah. Great, you know, ovation there. So, um, and Josh is he's a great dude and been fun to watch. Do you think so? Obviously with Aaron Judge, Jaylen Brunson, who do you think like the king of New York is athlete-wise? And this is no shade at anybody, you know, obviously just your from your perspective. I feel like it's Ben Judge, you know? I feel like he's kind of been the guy. I feel like you can make a better argument for Jaylen now, obviously with winning a championship.

Now, I think if Judge, you know, if we could, that's something we could do and, you know, Judge is a part of that, then I think he could definitely take that. Yeah. I mean, I think I agree with that, you know, with Jaylen now, especially the performance he put on. Oh, it was crazy. You know, it was, you know, it's kind of hard to argue with that. I know. So, um I want to go into the Yankees now. You're second in the division, but you got the uh the best run differential. Um but you guys have been playing well all year. Like what do you what makes you guys stay so consistent?

Yeah, I think you know the depth is great. Again, I think our rotation is amazing. We got a lot of depth there. Again, obviously some injuries right now that set you back a little bit, but you know, guys have been able to step up. So, I feel like we've done a great job on that end. And then, you know, offense has been amazing, too. You know, obviously it's tough with Judgy and um and G out. Uh just can be a little frustrating, but I feel like we played have played really good ball, you know, since they've been out. Had a little bit of a rough patch, you know, the last two weeks. You know, finished really, you know, well off in Washington. But, you know, I think the

consistency of just, you know, putting, you know, together good at bats has been fun to watch. So, sometimes it just doesn't click fully. you know, sometimes, but I think once we get clicking, we're going to be in a good spot. Watching the offense or watching really the Yankees in general on your on the days you're not starting and not having judge in the lineup, like what do you feel like is missing? You know what I'm saying? And you know, I don't it could be just the bat. It could be everything. You know, like if show didn't play for us or if he when he's out of the lineup, it's like you're not just missing just like a bat. like you're missing like a whole presence, you know? Sure. You know, and

so with Judge, like what do you feel like? I would agree. I feel like the presence of him being in that lineup, like that can scare some pitchers. So, I think without him, it becomes a little bit more vulnerable where they have maybe slightly more confidence. Again, we have a great lineup. We have some really good players on there, bigname guys that, you know, I think pitchers definitely don't overlook, but when you have a guy like Aaron Judge, Aaron in there, it just changes the game. Yeah. It's just a different level. I mean with all of us it Yeah, sure. But I mean none of us are show you know so yeah exactly it definitely makes a big difference and uh but you got you've had belly coming up Ben Rice.

Oh yeah. Um what do you what does Belly brought? I mean obviously you know us playing with Belly brings vibes first of all, right? He does. And then uh so for you guys I want you to say what does uh what does belly bring for you guys? same thing again like he's a five tool player, you know, he's he's amazing. You know, when he's out there, he's he's made some some amazing plays and, you know, overall he's just a great teammate. You know, again, he brings the vibes and he's a really good dude off the field as well. So, feel like he brings that, you know, leadership and experience as well over from you guys.

And for you personally going into year two, what adjustments have you made that's made you so successful this year? I think took me a little bit last year to kind of, you know, settle in. Um, was still kind of mixing with the Arsenal a little bit, you know, while getting called up and feel like I really figured that out maybe my last start of the regular season. Maybe a little Yeah, I think against Baltimore, last start of the regular season, I really understood like how I should use my Arsenal and should use the fast balls. You know, I took that into the playoffs, was comfortable with it, kind of just took in the offseason. I'm like, "Hey, like this stuff worked. I'm going to take it in this year and see how it goes."

And in the minor leagues, I saw a video of you. You were throwing like 92. You're this big. It's probably less. Yeah. You were this big long dude throwing like 92 and then now you can't help but throw 100. So like what how did you get there? I think just again like it took time, you know? I didn't just like get a huge VO bump right away. Like I kind of gradually gained that. Okay. you know, over like a season and a half. And I think first it comes down to um you know, putting the work in the offseason. I feel like lifting weights. Yeah. The offseason work you put in, like you're going to see those results probably in like around this time of the year.

Um but you know, put on 20 pounds. Oh, cleaned up the mechanics. Put on 20 pounds uh going into 25, cleaned up the mechanics going into 24. So kind of just took me a little bit to get that to click, but like gradually saw that VO increase and I've been able to kind of maintain that pretty well. So when you saw your VO increase, now you're sitting, you know, 98 to 100 every pitch. What does that do for your confidence? Like because when you're throwing 92, you don't there's no way you're confident like, hey, I'm just going to it's 200. I'm just going to throw a heater. Yeah. But like when how when you're sitting 98 to 100, you have way more confidence just two. I'm going to throw a heater.

Like how does that like what is it? What is that like having that, you know, that change in confidence? I think just like I've always been a fastball heavy guy, like I've always been able to command the zone. So even if throwing like 90 or 92, thinking that was like hard that I could just kind of throw that in there and be fine. Now again, being able to do that 98 to 100 obviously like sometimes you can get away with it. But um yeah, it gives me confidence to go out there and just attack the strike zone something I try to do is limit the walks. And if I can do that and be in the zone, then you I'm going to be a lot more comfortable with myself.

Yeah. you don't worry about getting hit. I mean it's going to be hard to reve up a whole lot of hits throwing 98 to 100. It's not saying it's not possible, but Oh, it happens. But I mean it's it's just really hard to do. Definitely. So I want to a little bit about you. Uh you're from or grew up right around Boston. Yep. What about your family? Like I'm assuming you guys grew up Red Sox fans. Oh yeah. Are they still Red Sox fans or did they No, they're all Yankees fans. I think they appreciate the Red Sox and I think they have respect for them and I don't think they want them to do bad, but they're always going to put the Yankees first.

So, you know, so like when you go back to Boston and you pitch in Finway, it's all love, but obviously you're a Yankee, so you're taking care of business. I think it's like a mix of both. You leave a bunch of tickets? Yeah, I do for my buddies at least for one game. Like I'll get them all there and you know, we'll we'll hang out on the field after and just chat it up. Oh, but you won't go to dinner or anything. No, it depends on the schedule. Yeah, if it's all night games, it's tough, but if they're you slot a day game in there, it's it's possible.

What's one of your um favorite things about the Red Sox Yankees rivalry? I mean, you grew up watching it and now you're in it. So, you know, what's one of your favorite things about I mean, I grew up like supposedly supposed to like hate the Yankees, you know, like Right. For sure. I think that's the best part. Like I feel like when you have two fan bases that are so it can be so toxic at times like it's just like they just like will never mash no matter what. Like I feel like the rivalry was a lot better when I was younger. Yeah. Okay. And I feel like it's starting to head back in the right direction. So it's like it's it's fun to see but I feel no matter at the end of the day like the

fans are really going to get into it more than the players. I feel like the players are really on the same eye level but like everything surrounding it is a little crazy. I think that was uh that was that was the difference is like the players now are like you said all were all on the same eye level right and back before when it was at its highest it was hostile outside the I guess with the fans. Yeah. Oh yeah. But then on the field it was hostile too. There was a lot of fights and all those other type of things kind ran into that.

Yeah. It didn't happen as much. So, and you had a start last year against uh the Red Sox where I you went eight with 12 punchies, five hits. That was in uh like I said during the playoffs. How did that uh that was your first start in the playoffs against the Red Sox? Is that was that first start ever in the playoffs? Oh, ever in the playoffs. And so when you know, okay, I got the Red Sox coming up and you're pitching like how does how did you prepare for that? Like I'm assuming you took a nap. I did take a nap. So that's probably why took an hour nap. I think I got there. I was there super early. Yeah, I was there super early. I had a lot.

No, I was like pretty excited. I feel like I got really good sleep. Like probably the best sleep I gotten in like over a month. And Oh, wow. Yeah. Like I was very calm about it. Um I was excited, you know. I feel like there was a lot of pressure and that's I feel like that's something I play, you know, well around. So Okay. I was confident myself in those guys. Your whole family was there. Oh yeah. Did your boys from Boston come down? Some of them did. Yes. Yeah. Were they wearing Red Sox stuff?

Um, I think they were wearing like funny shirts of me, like custom shirts or something. Like I don't think they weren't wearing like jerseys, but like they definitely weren't wearing their Red Sox. Okay. So, you when they come in, they know they when they come in here, yes, they know it's okay. Back home, like they have a little bit of excuse. All right. There was a tweet that you had after you uh won uh the Boston series. or that drinking that dirty water. Did you think of that in the shower the night before? That seemed like something you had. I did not think about it. So, when did

that How did that come up? You know how it You know exactly what that mean, you know? Yeah, I know what it mean. I just didn't you know. Okay. Yeah. I don't know. I thought it was a good one. I just feel like there was so much before the game that I was dealing with. I was like, man, I didn't expect them to come at me like that and I was like, if I pitch good, I'm going to definitely get back. And then you thought about that after.

Yeah, everyone thought I was like drinking at 12. Like I went on the flight and I was tired. Like I went to bed. Like I was completely sober when I was tweeting those up. So, uh I do want to ask I play a little game called this or that between Boston and in uh and New York. Better food scene. New York. Yeah. I don't think it's close. I think New York has the best food scene in the country. Okay. Uh better sightseeing. It's a good one. Um, I do think there's more options in New York. You think there's more options?

I do think there's some really good ones in Boston, but like I do think there's some more things depending on the season in New York. Okay. All right. What about uh friendlier people? Probably Boston. And that's tough. That's tough because there's, you know, both. Yeah, they're they're pretty similar, but Boston's a little bit nicer. Okay. All right. Uh, better accent. I've never really noticed the Boston accent because Is that probably because you live in it?

Yeah, but there's also like only 1% of people from Boston have that accent. Like it's like a certain area. Like you have to be from Dorchester, you know, around that area to really like have that or like Worcester. Okay. You got those are kind of the two areas you have it. So like I feel like I enjoy the New York one better. It's a New York accent. Okay. What about a better sports culture? I mean, I'm going to be biased obviously and say New York, but like I growing up in Boston, like I've seen a lot of championships and I've seen again between the Socks, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots. I've been to a lot of parades. So, it's like growing up I feel like that sports culture was

better. Um, I am biased of how good it is here with the fans, but like we still got some work to do. How old are you? How old? Yeah. Uh, 25. So you probably I was probably playing when you were growing up. Yeah, I was in high school. Yeah. We love you. That's crazy. All right. So, um, honestly, you know, being in both, seeing both. Not I haven't been in New York, but just seeing both like I would have to probably say Boston just because like when you're in Boston, like you live Boston sports like you become a Patriot

fan, you become a Celtics fan, you become a Bruins fan. I didn't even care any I didn't even know about these those teams growing up because I'm from Nashville. Then when I got to Boston, it was like I just became a fan of all of them. I would go to all the games and it's like you won them all the way in cuz when you're there it's like you're in this bubble and yeah, it's all sports. It's all sports and it's like you against the rest of the country. So it's a fair statement. I feel like New York too like there's a lot of people that come to New York that again tourists or Yep. have no insight on sports. They

really they're just kind of here for the vibes or whatever. So, I would agree with you on the fact that everyone from Boston, they're all die hard. Yeah, you know, exactly. Okay, so um duck boats or the Canyon of Heroes? Duck boats. Yeah, those are cool. Have you been on one before? Yeah, I have. I got to uh the World Series, we got to take a duck boat and then you just drive into the water. It's crazy, man. It's wild.

Doesn't make any sense, but it's it's pretty cool. It's pretty Do you know any of the engineering or anything behind it or? Absolutely not. No. Okay. All right. So, last one. Uh, better nightife. New York. Yeah, I agree. I would agree with that. Uh, we got this hot take hotline presented by Panda Express. This is the Hot Take Hotline presented by Panda Express where hot orange chicken is back for a limited time. Do you do Panda Express? I haven't. They got one in Walpool though.

What is that? Walpool. Is that a That's where I'm from. Oh, in suburb of Boston. Yeah. 30 minutes south. It's like right next to Foxboro near uh Pat. Okay. Foxboro. That's where the uh that's where the Pats play. Okay. So, you got to go to a lot of Pats games. Oh, yeah. And you got Panda Express on your way to Pat. I haven't had it, but my buddies like it. Okay. They Okay. Well, we got a We're going to listen to a voicemail. Uh we're going to give our thoughts and if it's a+ uh take or whatever we want, A to F, whatever kind of take it is.

How's it going, Muki? Um, hope I get picked for this, but um, lifelong Dodgers fan here. I my hot take is I think that Fenway is a top three stadium, but a bottom three playing environment. Would love to hear your thoughts. Glad you're uh glad you're with us now. So, hope this gets picked and appreciate. Thank you. So, it was a top three stadium, bottom three playing environment. I'll go first. Give you a little time to think. I think uh he's he's right when you can go top three stadium. I think uh Fenway is definitely up there with uh favorite places to play. Um I'mma go with a D minus close to F.

Yeah, when he says playing environment though, that place is an awesome place to play. Yeah, it's a great place to play and I feel like it shaped me to who I am today because to your point earlier like the fans there's pressure. There's pressure every game and I feel like if you can learn to play with that pressure every game and play with some type of chip on your shoulder, it'll help you throughout the rest of your career. So, what do you think about I agree. I think I would go with an A on the um top three stadium. I feel like it's just kind of iconic, you know, being how old it is and, you know, the history behind it.

It goes similar to probably a D plus on the environment. I feel like the fans get really into it. I think the environment again, I don't know if it's for the players. It's tough for the players. It's a hard place to play at. Um, I feel comfortable there, but it can be tough to play at, but like the fans are so into it that like it's probably a top five environment probably in baseball. I mean, you would want you want the fans to be have to, you know, I would rather the fans be too hard on you than to not care about what's really going on and not show up, you know, for sure. So, all right. So, let's uh switch gears

a little bit. Playing for Boon, um what's it like playing for Boon? He's awesome. He's a man. I think the guys love him. They respect him. You know, he's a player first manager and that's really all you can ask for. Um, I've had great conversations with him and I feel like the respect is mutual y regardless of, you know, what they're saying out there, I think he's been amazing for us. And yesterday, you know, when he went out um to pull Cole and then Cole got to talk his way back into to staying in. I think stuff like that is why especially the guys love him so much. um regardless of months hitting the homer doesn't is that's not the point. The point is that there's so much he trusts and respect you guys so much and he allows you guys to be free and you

know not necessarily control anything but at least have some say so in kind of what goes on in the game and you know seeing that was like dang you know that's that's awesome you know I agree with that. I think it'll take some time to earn that, you know, when he comes out there and doesn't it definitely takes time. That's a [clears throat] gear call. But like yeah, like you got to earn that. You know, the times it's happened to me like I feel like it's been good. Like again, regardless of the homer there, Garrett's the guy, he's the ace. Like when he's been dominating for six innings and you, you know, and again, he walks the first guy, but like he's earned that right to get the chance to stay out there. Yeah. again, he makes

a bad pitch, but like at the end of the day, Boon, you know, has enough, you know, stones and still to keep him out there cuz, you know, he put his neck on the line, you know, for Cole, you know, and so that's that goes a long way with you guys. So, I bet you don't have too long, though. You keep on going, you know, doing what you're doing. You'll be able to talk your way into there. So, so what? Okay. So, he comes and pulls you. Let's say it's two years from now, whenever he comes to pull you and you feel like you can get this guy out. What are you gonna say? Yeah. I'm be like, I'm not coming out. I feel like Matt, like Carlos does it a lot. Like Carlos can be super aggressive out there being like, I'm not coming out.

Garrett does the same thing. I feel like I can be more passive about it just because like I know I am new and like regardless if I have a leash or not, like try to be respectful, but again, I feel like in two years like if I'm playing the way I'm playing, I've had a good game. It's the right situation where like I am dominating. I know I can get that guy out. I'm probably just not going to give him the [snorts] ball. Are you like letting him have it or are you like, "No, you're not getting the ball." Are you No, I'd probably be like, "No." I'd probably be like, "No." I just like And I would do everything I could to stay. Like if he walks out there and he doesn't point his hand out there,

it's like, "All right, I'm staying in." Okay. You're going to talk your way into it for sure. Okay. All right. We'll see. I uh I'll be watching to see uh what you say and I'm going to call you and say, "What did you say uh about going with Boon?" He's had his uh his fair share of criticizing from him, you know, over the last uh couple years. He's had the second most ejections by a manager in the game. Do you uh And he's had 49 over nine seasons. I feel like a that's a lot. Do you have uh do you have any of your favorite that you've seen? I feel like I mean I think they're funny, you know? I think I love when he gets like he when he's active like that he's yelling he's screaming because I feel like there's there's some pretty bad situations on

you know that side that I feel like should have you know probably leaned our way. I don't know if I have a favorite one but it's like it's happened earlier in the season like and it's like couple games in it's like early in the game like second inning like it is funny it is. So, I mean, I feel like you have to show up ready to go at the park. Like, you're he shows up, you know what? I'm getting tossed today. Yeah. Like, this is the day. He knows like this umpire just might be like a pain and he's like, I'm prepared for it. So, how many have you seen? At least four. At least. Yeah. At least.

Probably more. Okay. So, we have some. I want you to rate them from uh one to 10. And uh let's let's see what we got here. Do you remember hearing any of this? I He was pissed that he even had a challenge. Was he safe? Yeah, he was. He was safe. Yeah, he was just pissed he had a challenge. I don't remember if it was a catch or not, but I mean it is funny. I mean, just knowing Boon like as nice as a guy as he is and then this happens, it's just it's funny.

I think there was something happened like two innings before he was pissed about and then like that one just sent him over the edge. Okay. And he went back to talk to the other umpire that was that pissed him off. Oh yeah. He's like, I'm gonna get my last word in for sure. Yeah, he definitely going to. Okay, that's one. I mean, I feel like that's pretty low, you know. That was He was That's an average one. I give you like a C.

Yeah. Okay. [snorts] Okay, so uh five. What about the next one again? Strike three. Vi looking. He does not like that call. Yankees have had enough. See, this one's was funny cuz that's a strike. Is it? Yeah, that one was for sure. He always goes he always thinks I'm sure if it is off like he definitely goes off the player reaction. I think this is iconic one. You know what's crazy is I think we played again we played like not long after and Laz had second base. That's his famous one, I think. Yeah, that's that's a that's an eight.

Laz had second base and was talking to me about it and he was like it was a strike. I don't know what he was so mad about. So, uh, no, that's funny. Yeah, he's always got a good one. He's definitely make sure to get the last word in. Yeah. Uh, okay. So, let's go. Uh, what kind of grade we got there? That one's an A or I forget. Was it out of 10 or? Uh, we'll go with the grading system. Yeah, since you're fresh out of high school or whatever you went to. Yeah. So, we'll go we'll give that an A.

An A. Okay. So, uh, last one. The one two on the way to Gardner and it's called strike three. You know what I notic? This is when Brett Gardner hit the top. Aaron Boon is not afraid to say something to an umpire on bad pitches or bad. See it right now. Let's go. I've seen this clip. Yeah. Our guys are [__] savages in my box. Our guys are savages in the [__] box. Tighten it up right now. Okay. [__] up. Okay. So, what's it mean? What about what you got on? I feel like that was pretty average, too.

Yeah, that's like a C. That's like a C plus. I like how he's talking about his guys, though. That was funny. But like that was a quick one. Like he got what he needed to say out and he just walked away. Yeah. So, what like is it dope um when he goes out and he's protecting you guys? Like how does that feel um in the uh locker room or clubhouse or dugout, whatever. How does that feel? I think the biggest thing is just like knowing that he has your back like it takes a lot to you know earn that respect. I feel like for him to someone to like personally to have you know my back like I feel like you know it could

take a lot of trust. So for him to do that for any one of us, like that's something, you know, you're looking for out of a manager. Yeah, for sure. Okay, so I want to talk a little bit about u being everyone's rival. Um I kind of mentioned a couple years ago like when guys play the Dodgers, when teams play the Dodgers, it's kind of like their World Series and you know, it just means that they're going to get up. They're going to get up and they're going to get ready because they want to beat us, right? And the Yankees are the exact same way. You know, every everywhere you go, you have

a big following. there's everybody wants to come see the Yankees and uh when they play the Yankees they want to beat them and so uh do you enjoy that? How do you feel about that? Yeah, it's good. I feel like again when we go on the road and it's like you know the stadiums are sold out or like their highest attendance of the year you know regardless if you guys have gone there not before us like it's it's a lot of fun. Like I don't like when it's empty. Like I, you know, I love that environment, that pressure, and I feel like we get a lot of people at those games, especially outside of Yankee Stadium, and it can be, it can be a lot of fun.

Yeah, for sure. Uh, and uh I've heard that uh the staff, the coaching staff, they like to show you negative [snorts] things said about you. Yeah. So, is that true? There was a whole thing that it was, I think it was the other day or whatever. I hadn't even talked about it with any media since, but here's the place. I know, right? Um, no, like again, like I had a tough one against Detroit. Like, I feel like there's again, like I'm 25, like I'm active on my phone, you know, like I don't have to search or look that far to see whatever. Like, it's pretty easy. Like,

and you know, whatever. Like, I had a tough one like, you know, I have these meetings with my mental coach Chad. He's the best. Everyone does it. He's he is the man. You know, he works with the Stars, the Cowboys as well. like okay very well respected guy and um yeah he's been amazing for me so like you know he goes in there he plays a clip like before my starts you know like the last thing I do before I go outside I'm dressed in my full uniform he plays a clip it's a different message each week you know like it could be random like one time it's LeBron James or Kobe or um Sheffller or whatever it is some type of motivational

Yeah exactly like just to get you in the right mindset and you know he throws a clip in of you know last week when I was Tampa, you know, whatever. And it's just like, which I one, I had never seen the clip. Two, he has no idea who the guy is. So, it's just like he just thought it was good like kind of get on that edge like for, you know, bounce back start, whatever. This is a negative thing that was said. Yeah, it was a negative thing. So, it was good. I was like, it's not like I'm going out there, I'm thinking about this clip, right? But it's like, you know, I'm locked in. You know, I got my start.

Like, I sucked last week. Like, I got to have a good one against first place race. And um again, like feel like it was more of like a one-time thing. I don't like the way that it was brought up online. I think it could have been better, but uh again, like whatever he throws in there, like I trust him and like it's just to get me in the right head space. And if one or two times in the season he needs to throw something like that in there, I'm all behind it. So it's not like you're going out and saying like I need to find something negative to get me going. It's more like this that's just kind of what happened for sure. like I had like a flip kind of just like my mentality a little bit where like last year was super easy

because like no one heard of me and you know I wasn't like some huge touted prospect you know in our system right like I kind of had to fight for that and it was like I came up and it was like all right I can just prove to everyone like what I can do and that's a great motivation right this year like the fans have expected me to go out there and perform well so it's like I've been trying to find that different mindset I can help me before starts to kind of get locked in especially against teams that like I don't know much about, we don't have a rivalry about or like I personally don't have any issues with them. When you don't have anything or any rivalry or whatever, you have no real motivation, what is it that you try and grab from to get you motivated?

Yeah. And I feel like that's the problem I've had sometimes this year against certain teams that like I've never faced. It can be tough. Like I feel like I've again switching that mentality just being like more confident in myself, more confident in this team. Like again, you know, start of the year, right? Like we didn't have Garrett. Like I was trying to pick that up. Like I was trying to pick the rotation up a little bit because like Garrett was out and like you know me and Will and Weathers like we needed to step up a little bit. Feel like that was a great motivation. Now Garrett's back. It's like all right, we got our guy back.

Now Max is down. Carlos is down. So, it's like you're still trying to fill that those holes and like you're trying to stay healthy and on the field. So, like that's been a great motivation for me as unfortunate as that is. Like it's been good for me to like use that to be like, "All right, like I need to step up." So, you're kind of like Michael Jordan. Like you just need to find something. I wish I was Michael Jordan, but Well, you just need to find some You go online and after you get That's not good today.

Yeah. We'll see how this goes. Um, so you go online and you may uh look at some comments. You know what? That's the comment. They said something. Boom. That's that's that's kind of how it works. So that's not fully how it works, but that may be Yeah, it's good. Like I got a really good taste of it, you know, for the playoffs last year. Like Yeah. Super unexpected and I was just like, "Wow." Like this is crazy. But I love that stuff. So it's like it's a lot of fun to see it and I really don't get bothered by it. But again, it's like you can flip that switch so quick when you just see one thing. Yeah. All right. So, uh, and then Vla Vlatty last year he, uh, he said, uh, I don't know, after I guess after they

beat you guys in the, uh, in the DS, um, you know, he said he was like, "Duh, Yankees lose." Did that like fire you up at all or, you know, did that? It's frustrating. And I know he's a good dude. Like, I know the guys have had really good things to say about him. I can't really talk because I talked enough after the Boston game that it's like, I get it. like same situation. He deserves that moment, you know? He they beat us pretty good. Like we did not play good baseball. It's I feel like it was good motivation coming into this year and like facing them again for the first time. Like that was good. But like again like

you got to draw from that. That was your Yeah. But after like meeting all those guys, you know, the other like last week like they are good dudes. Yeah. I mean I really feel like in general that's kind of what it is. Like most guys in the league are really good dudes. It's just when you get in between the lines 100%. You know, there's this competition thing, but you just can't take it personal. No. You know, it's not personal towards you or whatever, per se. It's like that's their way of digging up that dirt to keep them going, you know, and so uh

yeah, you can respect it. I mean, I can feel like you beat us good, like you outplay us, like you have that right to talk a little bit. I don't think he dragged it on. Like he was like he said that and he went on to the next series. Yeah, you can respect it. It was over. I would say like a little advice, you know, for you and not that you asked, but um you know, I'm forever um ancient. You watched me uh play when you were younger, like it's it really is hard to find something all the time, right? It

really is hard. And so really what I had to do is kind of go in my own little bubble. Mhm. And really like it sounds super selfish, but I don't mean it selfish. It's like kind of play for myself. Like Oh, 100%. You know, you had I had to figure out how to play for myself. And it could really take like it was like really little games within the game, you know, and so how many strikes can I throw this or how many times can I hit it on the barrel, you know? And that's not it doesn't have anything to do about the game, but it does, you know, right? And so maybe something like that, like figuring out, okay, I don't have any motivation for this team. You're playing the A's or whoever that you

don't you don't see very often or whatever. just create a game and compete with yourself. Nobody's going to know but you. No, 100%. I've had those conversations like trying to find that switch, right? It's like it's not going to last forever, right? You know, eventually you're going to need to find something within yourself that's like going to motivate you every five or six days that you know, you can't always feed off other people. Like you're going to have to be able to find

something within yourself that's going to make that switch. And I would argue like try not to find anything that motivates you because motivation can come and go. Yeah, motivation is like uh you wake up one morning, you may be motivated, you may not be motivated. I would say try and find something that drives you, that just drives you, that keeps you going, you know, and that's it could be it really could be whatever, you know, but something that you have to be driven, not motivated. I think there's a there's definitely a difference in the two. And once you like you see Garrett Cole, like he's driven like he's not motivated. He doesn't wake up motivated. He doesn't care who's over there, he's driven. You know what I'm saying? And so

once you can do that, you'll you'll you'll find like the times that you're supposed to dominate, you will for sure. And then the times that you know in the in playoff game or whatever that it could go either way cuz you're facing another really good team. Oh yeah. like you'll find a way to be successful, you know, and there's and then when you get hit in the mouth, it's like you don't the next series, the next time you pitch, you're not like motivated to um fix the last one. It's like, no, this is just part of the process and I'm I'm driven to get to wherever I want to get to, you know?

I agree. Yeah, that's great advice. Yeah, for sure. Just don't use it against us tomorrow. Okay, before I let you go, um I do food reviews, right? And uh obviously Yankee State Yankee New York is known for pizza, but I've done um Korean corn dog, which is the Angels. Corn dog. [snorts] Corn dog. I know. Okay. It was pretty good. I gave it a seven. The hot dog, I mean, I'm sorry, the hot chicken sandwich, that was fire. Gave it a nine. Really good. So when Well, I guess you don't have to go back to Sacramento. No, you will have to go back to Sacramento, don't they? Are they there?

We're done this year. We already We went there once. They We're done with them, actually. Are they there for one more year? Uh, or they go to I think they are there for one more year. Well, whenever you go and if you're not pitching, I know you're not going to remember this, but if there if you do, I'll remember it. Get the River City hot chicken sandwich. Fire. Chicken sandwich. Hot chicken sandwich. It was fire. Okay. So then uh the brew crew uh they had cheese curds.

Okay. Not a cheese curd guy. No. Yeah. No, you don't have to get that. So um and then uh the highest the best thing I've had so far was the Puerto Rican inspired hot dog from Pittsburgh. It was nails. Really? Yes. Puerto Rican. We don't go there this year. I didn't go there last year, so I'm gonna have to wait a year for that one. Yeah. Well, it's a lot of food to think about, but that was fire. So, anyways, we know New York is a pizza place. You like pizza?

I got shredded for I don't do pizza or bagels and they almost practically disown me. New York did. Yeah. So, why don't you wh what? How come you don't like pizza? Just kind of like I think it's a sauce. Like I'm not a huge sauce guy. So, you don't like sauce? Yeah. Not really. So that kind of ruins my chances on Do you eat like spaghetti? Not with the sauce. So you just eat dry noodles? Yeah, with butter. I know. It's not good. This man eat dry noodles. And I said in spring training that I don't like pizza really or bagels. Like they were freaking out.

I don't not I'm not a big bagel guy, but Yeah. But New York, New Jersey, it's so big on bagels. Oh, huge. Really? So it's like they take that personally. You haven't Have you like tried to acquire the taste or not? I've tried. Just it just hasn't been it. The bagels aren't too bad, but like I just don't do them really. But the pizza. Okay. Well, I'm going to try the pizza. Yeah. You try the pizza from uh from You got to let me know how it is. Oh, yeah. It's probably pretty good. See the new chicken bucket they got? It's like ice cream. Looks like a KFC chicken wing and it's ice cream.

Yeah. It's crazy. Did you try it? I did try it. How was it? It was pretty good. Oh, nice. it. I was like really scared to try it because I didn't know what it was going to be, but like they brought all the new snacks down. It was really good. So, what it was what was it rolled in? I think like um corn flakes. Oh, cornflakes. I didn't really You couldn't really taste it at all. Like it was literally just vanilla ice cream. Then there was like a chocolate stick through the middle. It was so good. Nice. Uh that's what it's like to be 25. There's no way I would eat that. If you were to ask my teammates like my snack diet, like it's terrible. You don't eat good.

I can eat good. I just sometimes don't choose to. I feel like I can get away with it for another year or two. But like Goldmith's always like, "Hey, like it's going to catch up. You got a year or two left of this and you're done. It's going to catch up." Like now there's no possible way I would do that. No, for sure. No, none of I feel like it's impossible. Like the day would be over. I mean, I would feel terrible. Yeah, but you'll you got a little time. So, uh, can I get this pizza, please, sir? Is it warm at least?

Uh, there's only one way to find out. Did we get it last night? I don't think so. I think we got Colony Grill. Yeah, it's I heard really good, you know, Colony Grill. I've heard really good things. Okay. Well, first I was, you know, anticipating the huge slices. You know how New York gets a big slice type one situation. So, we just got a little mini. Yeah. Got a little cheese bread, you know. didn't give me any pepperonis or anything, but it's all good. We're gonna try it. And in the spirit of New York, don't you have to fold it?

I think so. Yeah. But this may be a little small to fold, it is. Yeah. When we're in New York, you got to do uh Well, in Rome, do as Romans do. So, we'll see. So, like this being 33, I can't do this. You can do it what, like once a month, maybe. I very rarely eat pizza. Yeah. All the dairy and stuff. Oh, yeah. Make me swell up. Mhm. Then I can't go out there and play. Well, I mean, I can go out there and play, but So, you're only going to have one slice. That's it. May or just one bite?

Yeah. Just one bite. I would give this I mean, it's a slice pizza, you know. I'm going just give it a nice smooth little What was the cheese curds? 6.0. Yeah, I'm going to go with 6.0. Just regular slice of pizza, you know. think it'd be better with a drink or two. Um, you got a couple drinks at the stadium, you know, wait 10 minutes in line for it. Yeah, if you got some drinks, I think this pizza may be pretty good. So, um, yeah, I'm going to give it a six. It wasn't terrible, but it was it just seemed like it was a slice of bread with a little sauce on it.

Just a, you know, Yeah. Just a normal cheese pizza. Nothing crazy pizza. You know what I'm saying? Just normal cheese pizza. Shout out to Colony Grillo. Thank you for uh giving me the cheese bread. So, anyways, uh Cam, man, thanks for coming on the show, bro. Um like you said, I know you don't do this very often, but you seem like you got some personality on you. Dress nice. um you know and uh shout out to you and all that you're you're doing right now, man. Keep it going. Find something that drives you. Find something that drives you, which will be uh tough to do. And it may didn't have to be right now, but you trial and error and you'll you'll you'll figure it out. And uh good luck with everything, bro.

Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yes, sir. We'll catch you guys next time on Base.