- 9 hours ago
Rangers first baseman Jake Berger joined the GBAG Nation LIVE from Spring Training in Arizona. Berger discussed offseason swing adjustments, a new Pilates routine, clubhouse chemistry under a new manager, his desire to play in the World Baseball Classic, defensive pride, video game trash talk with teammates, and more.
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00:00Rangers first baseman Jake Berger joining us now here on 105.3 The Fan and a good afternoon to you
00:06sir. How the heck are you?
00:08Good, good. How are you guys?
00:10We're doing outstanding and I think this is two years in a row you go hit a home run and
00:15then you jump on the headset and join us on the show here.
00:17So I think we've got a thing going.
00:19Let's keep that thing going into the regular season, you know. Maybe every night.
00:23We're up for it, man. We'll give you the hotline number. You can call in on your way to the
00:27yard or something.
00:29How are you feeling out there though? Everything coming together well for you?
00:33Yeah, yeah. Feeling really good, you know. Obviously last year disappointing for myself and a lot of guys on the
00:39team.
00:40For me this offseason, you know, I was working on a couple setup changes that freed me up a little
00:45bit and it's felt pretty good so far in spring with consistently getting the ball in the barrel.
00:50So this goes to your stance and the way that you're getting ready to take a look at what he's
00:56going to offer?
00:58Yeah, yeah. You know, I felt like my hands were probably creeping up a little too high and with my
01:03load, my hands drop basically every single time.
01:06And if I don't give myself enough time to get those hands back up, I cut off my swing and
01:11a lot of rollovers to the left side and pop-ups to the right side.
01:14So it was kind of getting my hands back oriented and making sure my sequencing was right throughout my swing.
01:20That's a really interesting detail. Thanks for sharing that.
01:23Now, at this point in your career, do you observe yourself or do you watch yourself and make those adjustments
01:28yourself?
01:28Or what's your process like for figuring out what you want to work on?
01:32Yeah. So, you know, I kind of look at last year and a lot of the swings and my successful
01:36swings and my bad swings and kind of come up with a common denominator and kind of work from there.
01:42And, you know, even looking back at 24 and 23 swings as well.
01:45And, you know, for me this spring, I feel like the last two spring trainings, I've gotten too mechanical too
01:51early before my timing was there, before my eyes were there.
01:54And this spring, I've basically not looked at any video whatsoever and kind of going based off a feel and
02:01just kind of being process, like relentlessly process oriented and know I'm working on the right things in the cage.
02:08And, you know, eventually it translates out there.
02:10And if I'm doing that, you know, every single day for 162 games, you know, I feel like at the
02:15end of the season, I'm going to look up and it's going to be right where I want it to
02:18be.
02:18Okay. So what about the the what can you tell us about the offseason Pilates situation?
02:25Can you take take us into that a little bit there, Jake?
02:28Yeah, yeah. Ashland, my wife's been harping on me for about four years now to get on a reformer.
02:35And, you know, I thought it was kind of silly, you know, I'm like, hey, I like to move weight
02:40really fast and, you know, try and get under a squat rack or, you know, deadlifting.
02:45This is I don't need this. And, you know, I had some soft tissue stuff last year that I'm like,
02:50all right, maybe we need to dial in the the small muscles a little bit to help support the big
02:55muscles.
02:56And let me tell you, it's it's way harder than any lift in a gym.
03:01So you start shaking and you don't even realize how hard it is.
03:07But no, it was it was great. I feel feel really strong and something that's going to be a part
03:11of my routine for the rest of my career.
03:14Getting any teammates on board?
03:16Not yet. I know a lot of guys do agree. I do more traditional.
03:21And so I'm trying to get more guys into the traditional side of it as well.
03:25And I know a lot of guys you have utilized it.
03:29And a lot of my buddies back home, you know, Vinny Pasquantino and Brent Rooker, those guys do a lot
03:34of parties as well.
03:35So it seems to be catching on in the baseball world for sure.
03:38Yeah. Is it one of those things where you wake up after doing it, you didn't realize you had muscles
03:43there?
03:44Like this? Yeah. Yeah.
03:45Like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
03:46Jeez, I didn't even know it. There's a muscle there, you know, kind of.
03:49Yeah. That that that first month for sure.
03:51You know, once you get in the routine, it's like any other thing, you know, it's like you try a
03:55new movement, you'll feel it.
03:56But that first month, you're like, oh, my God, like I can barely walk up these stairs.
04:01I didn't realize I had muscles where it hurts.
04:04Yeah, exactly.
04:06It's Jake Berger here with you on 105.3 The Fan, home of the Rangers on the zero res hot
04:11seat.
04:11What's different about these international games?
04:14Anything? It's just kind of neat for us to be able to watch Brazil up here.
04:16What's the experience been like for you?
04:18Yeah, it's really cool.
04:19You know, I think the WBC is a really awesome event.
04:23And, you know, I'm excited to watch a little bit of the game tonight with Australia and Chinese Taipei going.
04:29But, you know, I think it just brings together kind of the nation focused tournament.
04:34I think that's always fine.
04:35And seeing Brazil, you know, that starter today, you know, it's a guy you hadn't heard of.
04:40He doesn't have a true media page, but, you know, he's coming out throwing 92, 93 with good, good three
04:47pitch mix.
04:48And, you know, it's just cool to see guys get that opportunity on a bigger level.
04:52Would you want to play for Team USA?
04:55Yeah. Yeah.
04:56I mean, no doubt about it.
04:57I think that'd be a highlight, a real dream.
05:01And, you know, I think it's something that I'm aspiring to, you know, hopefully get the nod in three years
05:07and work my butt off over the next three years to get that.
05:11Now, are you guys under any direction to not embarrass them?
05:14Because I thought you could have scored from third there.
05:17Yeah.
05:17No, I'm putting that on rags.
05:19You know, I'm going to pull this clip.
05:22I'm going to pull this clip and show them the sprint speed around second.
05:26And, you know, I'll have a stern talking with them tomorrow morning.
05:30That's for sure.
05:32That's what I saw.
05:33So we got to chat with you last year.
05:35You're a big hockey guy as well.
05:37So how much enjoyment did you get watching the boys go bring home, and the gals, bring home the gold
05:41there in the Olympics?
05:43Yeah, it's so sick.
05:44And, like, the way they did it, both the women's and the men's, that was awesome.
05:47You know, OT, golden goal game winners.
05:50And it's just really cool to see, like, hockey get the spotlight it deserves.
05:55I think it's a beautiful sport and one of the most fun to watch.
05:59And so seeing them do what they did against a powerhouse in Canada was sick.
06:06I'm happy for those guys.
06:08The women's team, you know, I feel like they're perennial winners and just cool to see their dominance in the
06:14sport.
06:15What differences can you share with us?
06:17You came into the Rangers last year.
06:19You were dealing with a lot.
06:20We know the story about your daughter.
06:21And we've talked to you before we were there when the team was signing that blanket for you and how
06:25awesome that was.
06:26But you have Boach last year.
06:27You come in now year two, hopefully more comfortable with the team, but now a new manager in Skip Schumacher,
06:32but a guy that you've got a history with.
06:35Yeah, yeah.
06:36No, I loved playing for Skip in Miami.
06:38And, you know, Boach is a legend, and it was awesome to play for him.
06:42But I was definitely excited that the next man after Boach was Skip.
06:45And, you know, it feels like that's the only move you can make after a legend like Boach.
06:50And I'm really fired up.
06:52It's been an awesome spring so far.
06:55You can kind of feel the energy amongst the group, just the energy that Skip brings day in and day
07:00out.
07:00And the communication he gives guys on a daily basis, it's just, you know, it's next level.
07:06And so I know a lot of guys are really fired up about this year.
07:09It's Jake Berger with us here on The Fan.
07:11We were talking about Aaron Judge went viral for he was trying to give a little bit of a pump
07:16-up speech that maybe fell flat for Team USA.
07:20Who on the Rangers would be the best player to give the pregame pump-up speech in a big moment?
07:26Oh, that's a good question.
07:28I think Evo's got that.
07:30I think Evo would probably be the best at a pump-up speech there.
07:35You know, I think Nemo can do that as well with the couple weeks I've gotten to know him.
07:41You know, I feel like he's got a lot of charisma.
07:43And I think those are probably the two.
07:46One position player, one pitcher.
07:47I feel like that's a safe answer.
07:48Love it.
07:49He seems like a chatty guy, that Nemo.
07:51I see him like I'm watching him from the field.
07:53He's talking to everybody out there.
07:55Is he that type of guy?
07:57Is he always kind of walking up in your business and just talking to you about stuff?
08:00Yeah, he's a talker.
08:02You know, I like it.
08:02I like that type of energy.
08:04You know, sometimes at 6.30 in the morning, we're locker partners.
08:08Oh, there we go.
08:09I made a couple coffees first, but, you know, still all good.
08:13Okay, Jake, I don't necessarily hear this, but we've got two listeners that have texted in now and said that
08:18you somewhat sound like Patrick Mahomes.
08:21Has anybody ever told you that before?
08:23That's the first time I've ever heard that.
08:26And I don't know, is that a compliment?
08:28I mean, I love Louie.
08:29He's one of the ghosts.
08:31All right, we're good.
08:33We'll take that.
08:33All right, I like it.
08:34Yeah.
08:35Have you ever had to give a pregame speech yourself?
08:39Yeah, I think a couple of them, especially Missouri State.
08:42And then, like, in Miami, we were such a young team that I was kind of the veteran still on
08:48a rookie contract, which was interesting.
08:51So I feel like I always had to kind of give those pep talks during a hitter's meeting or after
08:56a game.
08:57You know, I like to give some speeches, but, you know, I feel like it's got to be at the
09:04right opportunity in the right spot.
09:06Who's the biggest ball buster in the clubhouse?
09:09Seager, by far.
09:11Really?
09:12Yeah, DeGrom's there, too.
09:15Especially, we've got some ping pong going in the clubhouse out here in spring, and, you know, I think that's
09:23an easy game to kind of talk crap to each other.
09:25Well, if you need some ammunition, we found out today that Tyler Alexander, he is a free ball guy, okay?
09:33So even when he's playing, he's not going with any type of undergarments there.
09:39Now, how insane is that, by the way, to play baseball?
09:41You know, I think I overheard a conversation just now before I got on here about that.
09:49Oh, no kidding?
09:51Yeah, no, that's – you learn something new every day, you know?
09:55You learn something new every day.
09:58That's what's fun about a clubhouse, though.
10:00Yeah, I can imagine.
10:02Yeah.
10:02Now, speaking of that clubhouse and that atmosphere of talking trash and ball busting, are our guys, Wolchuk and Chiafalo,
10:09getting any reputation among the players?
10:11Because they like to get down there in the morning clubhouse media session and ask your teammates some pretty irreverent
10:16questions.
10:17Have you heard anything about this?
10:19No, I have not.
10:20I haven't heard.
10:21And that's good.
10:22Yeah, I've been disconnected from it.
10:24So, you know, that doesn't mean I'm not going to hear about it tomorrow.
10:29That's where the free balling conversation comes in.
10:31Yep.
10:32You can thank us for that.
10:33That's it.
10:34Hey, Jake, listen, if we see you in the clubhouse, we'd love to get an exclusive exclusive with you, okay?
10:39Well, I do wear underwear, so, you know, that's –
10:43You're going to need a cup for this conversation.
10:48What about the powders, the gold bonds and things like that?
10:54Like, how prevalent is that this time of year?
10:57Not too prevalent for me.
10:59You know, I think it's definitely hot summer day, Cincinnati, St. Louis, you know, Midwest, kind of that humid, wet,
11:08really hot.
11:10You know, it feels like it comes out a little more there.
11:13But, you know, in spring, like, you're putting your cup on for the first time.
11:16It's – you definitely need some protection down there.
11:19Okay, so you're –
11:20Brothers collect cups.
11:21You're rocking – he does.
11:22And that's – okay, Tyler Alexander told us only the catchers are wearing the cups, so he lied to our
11:26face because you're in first base.
11:28Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to feel confident holding somebody on with Shohei Itani at the plate, hitting a
11:34ball 108 or 118.
11:37And I'm still trying to have another kid, you know?
11:40Like, we've got to protect the family tools a little bit.
11:43Yeah, no doubt.
11:44Well, let me ask you this, though.
11:46Is there, like, a time when you know you're getting ready to go to training camp and put that thing
11:49on for every day that you're kind of at home practicing?
11:53No, I definitely should.
11:54No, that's smart because I do do that in cleats.
11:57Like, I probably look like a psychopath, but I'm walking, like, around the park in cleats just trying to get
12:02my legs used to it.
12:03But, you know, hey, that's a good point.
12:07That's definitely a part of next year's routine is, you know, maybe we throw on the cup as well.
12:12In the park with the cleats.
12:14Yeah, in the park with the cleats.
12:16Hey, good afternoon, cup of coffee in hand.
12:19Like, just the cleats and just the cup.
12:21Chasing around a three-year-old and a dog, you know?
12:23I don't know what's better.
12:27Jake, how confident are you going to be in maybe challenging one of these balls and strikes here at the
12:33play with the new system?
12:34Zero percent.
12:36You know, I feel like I just don't, you know, I think it's got to be the right time and
12:41place.
12:42I'm definitely not doing something early in the game, but I think if it's a big situation, I remember it's
12:50the only time I've gotten tossed out of a major league game.
12:52I mean, it was bases loaded, 3-2 pitch up and away.
12:55They got striked, and it was three balls out and up.
13:00And, you know, it was the eighth inning.
13:02We were in the playoff hunt in Miami.
13:04And so situations like that, you know, I feel like that's when I'm going to use it, when I'm pretty
13:09passionate about where it's at.
13:11But those 50-50 calls, it's just not worth it for me.
13:15This team getting back in the playoffs this year, Jake, what do you think?
13:19Yeah, I mean, I love the buzz here.
13:21And, you know, we got the pieces.
13:23I think there's a lot of guys, like I said at the beginning of this interview, like upset about last
13:28year and disappointed, whether it's injury performance or both.
13:33And there's just this energy and vibe around the clubhouse that's, I don't know, it's infectious, you know.
13:40And you just feel it amongst everybody.
13:42Everybody's a competitor in there.
13:43And it just feels like we're on the right trend.
13:47And, you know, we got to take care of business on a day-in and day-out basis, not taking
13:51any pitches off.
13:52Jake, we focus a lot on the offense.
13:54We want all the burger bombs possible from you this year.
13:57But this club, a reason why you were always in every game was how good you were defensively.
14:02How much pride as an infield do you take in carrying that over from last year?
14:07Yeah, I think that's huge for us, you know.
14:09I mean, we feel like we have one of the best staffs in baseball.
14:12And if we can make plays for those guys on a nightly basis, we're going to put them in a
14:16better position with themselves and their careers.
14:19But also, you know, it helps the offense stay close in games.
14:24And so, obviously, everyone's focused on the offense.
14:27But we're focused on the defense.
14:29And as Jacob DeGrom walks by me, making plays for Jacob.
14:34Hell yeah.
14:35Like I said, he's talking crap to me right now.
14:39We heard you yesterday yelling at Wyatt when we had him on.
14:42Yeah.
14:42He's a lexer, personality-wise.
14:44Oh, I know.
14:45I know.
14:46I'm living with him right now.
14:47I wanted him to get home so we could play some games, you know.
14:50He's taking too long on the mic.
14:51What are you guys playing?
14:53We're playing Ark Raiders right now.
14:55Interesting game.
14:56We play Fortnite as a collective, as a group.
15:01But Wyatt and I are grinding this game Ark Raiders, and it's pretty fun, you know.
15:05There's, like, proximity chat where you can talk to random people in-game.
15:09So we're having a good time with that.
15:11You smack talker?
15:14Yes and no.
15:15It just depends on the situation.
15:16You know, it's situational awareness.
15:18Who just hit a home run?
15:19I believe that's Smitty with his second.
15:21Smitty with the second one of the day.
15:22Oh, he told me he made an adjustment between the first and second at-bat, and, you know, two home
15:28runs.
15:29Paid off.
15:29Man, he even hit it on the button.
15:32Yeah.
15:32That's outstanding, dude.
15:34Okay, what sounds better, a Jacob deGromlett on the Rangers menu at Globe Live Field,
15:40or Jacob's deGrom and Noodles?
15:45The omelet flows better.
15:48Okay.
15:49Yeah.
15:50We're workshopping it right now.
15:51But, like, but at the same time, like, both of those are not something I've, like, I'd get at a
16:00ball game.
16:00I don't know.
16:02Well, they're being creative now with these menus.
16:04Actually, Lou Malnati's is being advertised in the outfield, and you played in Chicago.
16:09Yeah.
16:09And we taught Deep Fish Pizza with you last year.
16:11We've never been.
16:12They've got one now in Surprise.
16:14Okay.
16:14Is it worth the hype, and what should we order?
16:17I think you just get the traditional pepperoni, but, you know, I'm more of the tavern-style pizza in Chicago.
16:24Oh, okay.
16:25You know, I think Deep Dish is maybe a little overrated.
16:28It's still good, but it's a little overrated.
16:30But the tavern style is the way to go, and I think that's more traditional Chicago style.
16:35Is that square cut, right?
16:37Is that kind of the ball pizza square cut?
16:38Yeah, it's square cut.
16:39Okay.
16:39Yeah.
16:40I got you.
16:40Yeah, a little thinner.
16:41I'm definitely more of a thin pizza type guy.
16:44How does Brandon at Nemoatmeal Cream Pies sound?
16:49Where are these coming from?
16:50That's a mouthful.
16:51Is it coming off the top?
16:52Man, it's got a gift.
16:53It's coming off the top of your head?
16:54McKenzie Gorio Ice Cream?
16:56Yeah, we need it.
16:57I mean, can you get it in our marketing department?
17:00I mean, this is not...
17:00I'm in, bro.
17:03Jake, thank you so much for your time, man.
17:05Best of luck to you.
17:06Congrats on all your success.
17:07We can't wait to watch you hit more of them.
17:09Yeah, thanks, guys.
17:10Thanks for having me.
17:11Thank you, Jake.
17:11There he goes, Jake Berger there on the Zero Res hot seat.
17:15Here he goes.
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