- 15 hours ago
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker joined the K&C Masterpiece before today’s matchup with the Diamondbacks. Schumaker discussed the big 7-4 win yesterday, offensive adjustments, Ezequiel Durán’s versatility, Brandon Nimmo’s hamstring recovery, the open roof, and more.
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00:00Brought to you by Trajan Wealth and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it is Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumacher.
00:06Good afternoon, sir.
00:09What's up? How's it going? You guys doing all right?
00:11Well, after a win, it feels like everything is good.
00:15And one of the things I wanted to know is whether it's because of the offense or just the aesthetics
00:21of baseball,
00:22do you have a preference on having that roof open?
00:28You know, I like it both. Honestly, you know, the controlled climate in the middle of the summer is a
00:34real thing.
00:35You know, I was obviously played in the old Texas Rangers Stadium in the middle of August, and that was
00:39not easy to play in.
00:41So I do love it for that reason. But anytime you can have the roof open outdoors playing baseball, it's
00:48a beautiful stadium, you know, with it closed.
00:50But with it open, it's it's pretty incredible.
00:53So the more open we can have times that it's open, we can have the better off, I think.
00:58Since you're talking about the old Rangers Stadium, do you think that after, let's say, May,
01:04if somebody invited you to that Sunday 2 p.m. game at the old stadium, they weren't actually your friend.
01:10They were your enemy.
01:13You know, Rod Barajas, who's our quality control coach here, you know, he caught a lot of those day games
01:20in the middle of August.
01:21And, you know, he's told me some stories that are uncomfortable, to be honest with you.
01:27So, yeah, I'd say, you know, again, we're happy that we have the option.
01:31What are you? And yeah, lots of IVs, I presume, were needed most times for sure.
01:36What was the mindset and how successful did you feel saying, Jock, you're leading off for us tonight?
01:45You know, we put together, you know, the line of construction post-game every day
01:50and trying to figure out exactly, you know, how to navigate, you know, the best way possible for our offense
01:55to click,
01:56but also potentially to make it challenging on the opposing manager.
02:00We've thought about a number of different ways to, you know, are we just going to beat the starter today?
02:05Are we going to try to, you know, make it difficult on the bullpen if they have a bullpen game
02:09on the other side?
02:11So there's a lot that goes into it.
02:13You know, we have, you know, our analytic group helps us out along with our coaching staff.
02:16So it's a collaboration to figure this thing out.
02:19But honestly, you know, Jock being at the top kind of was a conversation I had with Brandon Nimmo the
02:25night before
02:26of just trying to think of different ways to kind of mix things up to try to get more runs,
02:30especially here at home.
02:32And, you know, we've been struggling scoring runs in general, but definitely at home.
02:36And so, you know, maybe getting Jock at the top, you know, might spark something for, you know, everybody else.
02:41And Jock's had a really good homestand.
02:43So that was kind of the thought behind it.
02:46Brandon was on board with it, you know, talking with our staff.
02:49You know, they thought it was a good idea, so we went with it.
02:51And, you know, it only, you look good when Jock gets a home run, right?
02:55On the second pitch, yeah.
02:59So that obviously doesn't always happen, but it was a good day yesterday for everybody.
03:04And I know Brandon Nimmo will probably tell all of us that he's always fine.
03:08But how is he doing, and is he going to be good to go for today?
03:14Yeah, he woke up feeling good.
03:16So, you know, we'll see when he comes in.
03:18Make sure our medical staff is comfortable, you know, kind of moving forward and, you know,
03:23see what his progression looks like, you know, when he gets in the cages and, you know,
03:27rides a bike or whatever he needs to do to get the thing loose.
03:30But so far, so good.
03:32So, you know, hopefully, fingers crossed, we dodged a bullet.
03:35I didn't get enough camera shots over to you after he had kind of stepped on, had the funky step
03:41there.
03:41Were you just staring at him and going, no, no, no, no.
03:44I need you to look at me and tell me.
03:46How was that communication?
03:47Because it kind of kept looking like he kept going, I'm fine.
03:49I'm fine.
03:51Yeah, you know, initially when he, you know, went, came to the stadium yesterday,
03:58he told me it's the first day that he has felt 100% regarding the hamstring.
04:03So we're like, all right, you know, perfect.
04:05Here we go.
04:05He's like, yeah, I can go to first to third.
04:07I can steal a base.
04:08Like, you know, go ahead and let me go.
04:10I said, great.
04:10And then, of course, that happens, right?
04:12So initially I thought it was the hamstring.
04:16And so that, because I didn't see him hit the bag or hit the top of the foot from the
04:20first baseman.
04:21So I didn't know what it was until I got out there.
04:24Yeah.
04:24So then I, and when we were having the conversation, he told me that he was good and to get
04:29off the field.
04:30So I got off the field.
04:33And so that shows you what kind of gamer he is.
04:35Then I saw him kind of jogging after a fly ball to the left and knew it wasn't right.
04:39So it wasn't any reason to push it up, I think, six runs at the time.
04:43So got him off and hopefully got him off in time where he, you know, got some treatment
04:47and feels good enough to play tomorrow, today.
04:49Would you anticipate maybe Seager having the day off today or Friday?
04:54And would that be contingent at all on Nemo?
04:58So we have, no, Seager's going to play.
05:00He's in the lineup today.
05:02You know, we've talked, I talk to Corey every day.
05:05Um, and you know, he's, you know, as far as, you know, where he's at mentally and physically
05:10and everything, he's, he's good.
05:12Um, so I always feel that a guy like Corey is always close to breaking out.
05:17Right.
05:18So, um, and it, it, it means something when his name is in the lineup, as long as he feels
05:23physically and mentally good, we're good.
05:26So we have circled a day here coming up, um, and see, you know, see what that looks like,
05:31but there's always constant communication just in case he needs one before that.
05:34But, but Corey wants to play.
05:36He knows he's a big part of this, of this, uh, group.
05:39And, you know, when he goes, we're going to, you know, be really good.
05:41And we always feel like he's one swing away.
05:43You know, we'll, we'll make references back to our first conversation, Skip, at, uh, at
05:48spring training throughout the year.
05:49That's just how we, how we are.
05:51But you did tell us that you wanted Zeke to kick the door down.
05:54Has he officially kicked that door down and what more is there for him right now?
06:00Yeah.
06:00He's fun to watch.
06:01Um, he's, uh, he's doing everything, uh, that, you know, we have asked in more as far
06:07as playing multiple positions, by the way, in a, like in an elite level.
06:12Um, so it's second base.
06:14It can be shortstop.
06:15It can be right field, left field.
06:16We even put them in center field.
06:18The other day I had him catch a bullpen just in case, you know, another catcher went down
06:22and we flipped, uh, you know, catcher out late in the game to pinch run or something,
06:26emergency situation.
06:27And he looked like he could catch.
06:29Um, so it was, uh, he's been, um, not only the, like the spark plug in the clubhouse with
06:35the guys, the high energy, always the same guy.
06:39Oh, for four, four, four, four, four.
06:40It doesn't matter.
06:41He's going to give you everything he has.
06:43He loves to play the game.
06:44And I think that's, uh, what you have to look for in like in players when you are trying
06:49to identify who fits in our culture and, uh, who, you know, who you root for is, is the
06:54guys that love to play baseball and love the grind.
06:57And he is definitely that guy.
06:59So it's been a pleasure to get to know him better, um, you know, throughout the year
07:05so far.
07:05And yeah, it's, it's an easy guy to fall in love with, you know, see why I told us, I
07:09think it was opening day when we sat down with them.
07:11He was like, you know, one of the things we were looking for is guys that know what their
07:15role is and how they can contribute.
07:17And obviously I think at that moment he was talking about hitting in the lineup and in that
07:21order.
07:21That being said, he came in this season with his role being that utility kind of guy.
07:26Does his role stay that way in there, in there, and he's going to be that all season
07:30or can he earn something else at some point?
07:34Well, it feels like I'm starting him every day somewhere different.
07:38So I guess you could say it's a utility role, but he's playing every day, right?
07:43So, um, he's been hard to take out the lineup.
07:46He's been hitting righties better than lefties.
07:49Um, so it's not really a platoon situation.
07:52He's been at the top of the lineup.
07:54He's been hitting sixth and doing well.
07:56So, um, he's just, again, wants to play baseball, wherever you put them.
08:01Um, I feel comfortable at, um, and don't even hesitate.
08:05Like he's now could be our defensive replacement if he didn't, uh, start in the outfield or infield.
08:11Right.
08:11So it's just, it's a luxury type of player to have in, um, you know, lucky to have him
08:16on our roster.
08:17I know this guy has far less experience, but when you talk about that, like just happy
08:22to be playing baseball kind of vibe, is that what you get from Alejandro Suna as well?
08:29We do.
08:29Yeah.
08:30We, you know, we have a couple of these young guys that are just, they can't wait to come
08:33to the stadium.
08:34Um, and I think it, it's a breath of fresh air with some, you know, maybe veteran guys
08:38that are established and are coming in and they love to play baseball as well.
08:42Don't get me wrong, but you know, I've been a veteran before and you just, you come in
08:46and it's just, um, you, you come to come to work every day.
08:50Right.
08:50And, you know, to be excited to come to work is what you try to, um, to try to find
08:55with
08:55each guy to motivate them to be, you know, having fun to come to work.
08:59I know it's a job, but having fun and finding joy coming to work every day.
09:02And these young guys do, uh, give, you know, the entire clubhouse, that feel and that vibe
09:08every day.
09:08There's always high energy because of those guys and it helps the veteran guys as well.
09:13Um, maybe at the, you know, wherever they're at in their career, because you know, the,
09:17the veteran guys, they were young guys at one point too, and they probably had the high
09:21energy, you know, type of feel when they came in.
09:24And so it's, it's always good to have those types of players, you know, come through the
09:27clubhouse.
09:28Skip Schumacher joining us here on the K and C masterpiece on one Oh five, three, the fan home of
09:32your Texas Rangers.
09:33I'm, I'm just kind of curious.
09:34And last time I asked a food related question, you said, you'll have to ask Jacob de Grom,
09:38but did you happen to notice if, if McKenzie Gore ate anything different yesterday?
09:43Cause that was, that was a special, that was special to watch.
09:47Yeah.
09:48I, you know, I, I don't, uh, there's a lot of things I look at, you know, video wise and,
09:53uh, you know, trying to figure out how to get guys better.
09:55I don't dissect what they eat usually in the morning or in the afternoon, but whatever
10:00he did, uh, eat, hopefully he does the next time, uh, through in the next start.
10:05But yeah, he was, you know, after a bullpen day, um, you know, we needed some length and,
10:10you know, if McKenzie went five innings, we were going to be scrambling.
10:13Uh, so he went eight innings, you know, we really had call your lats and, you know,
10:18a couple of guys like emergency only and Quantrill, right?
10:21So that, that was the only guys really available.
10:24So when he gave us eight innings and then our offense provided, you know, some cushion
10:28that was gigantic for us, but yeah, McKenzie's fastball execution was the best it's been,
10:33uh, this year.
10:35And then he had the curve ball working.
10:37The changeup still is kind of a work in progress.
10:39The bullpen sessions have been amazing with the changeup, but in game,
10:43it's kind of been hit or miss.
10:44He'll get that.
10:45I'm very confident that he'll get the feel of that, you know, next start, maybe, um, even,
10:50but the fact that he could go North and South with the fastball and then the curve ball
10:54underneath it, you know, made it really challenging for the, the, uh, the D backs.
10:58The, do you have to talk to him and say, Hey, we need you today after a bullpen game,
11:03or did you just, he just understood.
11:07McKenzie Gore came in my office the day before when Evo, uh, had side discomfort and said,
11:12I can pitch today.
11:13So that shows you where he's at.
11:15Um, he's a gamer.
11:16He wants the ball.
11:17He even told me that, um, when DeGrom missed his start, you know, the second start of the
11:22year, like I'll take the ball if you need it.
11:24So that's, that's the kind of guy McKenzie is a gamer.
11:28He knows what's at stake.
11:29Um, and so that's why you're always confident when he takes the mound.
11:32What was that conversation?
11:33If at all, like after the seventh inning, any hesitation to put him back out there?
11:38Cause now you're getting in, you know, closer to the career high territory of innings pitched.
11:45Uh, for McKenzie, you're saying?
11:47Yeah.
11:48Yeah.
11:48Um, so yeah, I, I, uh, I'm 95 pitches.
11:52Um, I know he probably wanted to go CG.
11:55I totally appreciate that.
11:56Um, but again, when we have a cushion and, you know, six run lead, we felt pretty good
12:01about, you know, taking the game.
12:03Now it got a little dicey towards the end.
12:05Um, but I think, you know, that's, you have to play the long game.
12:08And when you have a chance to take guys out, you do it right.
12:12Because, you know, you never know when you need that extra inning in a high leverage
12:15spot and because you gave him that inning off, maybe in may, you can, you push him a
12:21little bit more in August.
12:22So you always have to remember that, um, of when you're navigating these games of like,
12:26okay, you know, we feel good.
12:27Like we have a really strong chance to win today right now.
12:30In this point of the game, he did his job, eight innings, 95 pitches.
12:34Let's give it to somebody else.
12:36And maybe, you know, if he needs to push against, you know, whoever the next start is, then
12:39we've given him that cushion.
12:41Is the thought right now, still day to day on Evo with the hope that he can still start
12:47Sunday or is there, are there any other updates?
12:51Yeah, well, um, he hasn't come in yet.
12:53Um, but, uh, yesterday was a better day than that was the day before, which is a good sign.
12:59So once he comes in today and has catch play, he played catch yesterday, which was great
13:04news, right?
13:04He wasn't a full day off.
13:06So once he comes in today has another day, you know, potentially maybe even gets on
13:11the rubber just to feel it.
13:12I'll have to see what that looks like.
13:14Um, and all obviously our medical group and, you know, we'll come together and see what
13:18the next steps are, but it was a good day yesterday.
13:21Hopefully we have a better day today.
13:22You know, Chris Martin, I know he got his first, uh, kind of rehab appearance yesterday,
13:27considering how well the bullpen has been doing, they've been freaking amazing.
13:32Do you question bringing Martin or eventually when he's ready Garcia back right now, or does that
13:38maybe give them a little bit more time to ramp up to rejoin the big club?
13:43Yeah.
13:44I think you want to make sure that they're ready to help us at the big league level.
13:48Right.
13:48So, um, you know, Chris and Garcia both miss, have missed significant time, making sure that
13:54they feel good, um, in their rehab starts to, you know, or the rehab outings, uh, to make
14:00sure that they can come up here and help us win baseball games.
14:03So, um, you know, I think you're going to see both guys get a couple, uh, outings to
14:07make sure they can go back to back.
14:09And so we're, we're still a little bit of ways away, I think.
14:12Um, but you never know.
14:13I don't want to give that a timeline either.
14:15They're, um, you know, cross your fingers that we're all healthy and everything's good.
14:19Um, but yeah, so Chris Martin yesterday, his fastball, he was good.
14:23He felt good, uh, the split fingers where he gave up a couple of home runs, uh, yesterday.
14:28So getting that right and where he wants it, um, cause that's his pitch that the splitter
14:33and the cutter, um, when he gets that right and he feels good, I think that's when, you
14:37know, we'll have the conversation.
14:38You know, you'd given a Jake Berger a couple of days off yesterday.
14:42He gets three hits.
14:43What do you tell a player going into that couple days off scenario?
14:47Do you want them to just relax or what can they watch?
14:50What can they change?
14:51What can they learn?
14:52Like, what is that scenario like?
14:54Yes.
14:55All of it.
14:56Okay.
14:56Okay.
14:56I, I, yeah, so I think it's, it's a lot of like, you know, watching some video of, you
15:01know, your best seasons, your highlight reels, remembering how good of a baseball player you
15:06are, um, and not just focus on all the negative stuff, right.
15:09But, you know, in this job and, you know, as a player, there's so much negative that like
15:14you can get consumed by one or the other.
15:17And so I want him, him to remember that he was a really good player.
15:20He still is a really good player.
15:22Watch those, those things of the, you know, why you were a really good player.
15:25And then focus on that.
15:27Get back to that mentality.
15:28Um, get back to hitting the fastball.
15:31Cause you used to crush the fastball.
15:32Let's get back to that.
15:34Uh, sit back, watch the game, observe, you know, take, you know, take a deep breath.
15:38You know, it's going to be okay.
15:39It's the middle of May.
15:41Um, a lot of games left, but I want you also to work.
15:44So in the mornings and afternoons, like get, get with JV in our hitting group, get off
15:49project and, uh, start getting to back to, you know, where, you know, where you want to
15:53be and who you are, because we know you're a really good player.
15:56And then during the game, watch it, take a deep breath.
15:58I'm not going to use you, um, unless it's a high leverage against a lefty type of situation,
16:02which they only have one lefty in this bullpen here.
16:05So we just wanted to give him a little bit of a, of a break and he was, you know,
16:09totally
16:10okay with it.
16:11I mean, he wanted to play, don't get me wrong, but he understood it.
16:14Um, and then, you know, got back and, uh, it helped with JJ.
16:18It helped with Smitty as well, you know, and Berger coming back with three hits.
16:22So some guys need a couple of days off, you know, and, and I think it's really beneficial
16:25for them.
16:26Well, to connected to that, and this will be the last thing for me here, Skip is, uh, the
16:30players trust, uh, from MLB MLB PA just announced that Jake Berger.
16:35As the most valuable philanthropist honoree for May, uh, granting him $10,000 for the
16:41Berger family foundation.
16:42In addition to what these guys do on the field, you gotta, you gotta crew of good dudes and,
16:46uh, and Jake Berger, we've gotten to know him pretty well in the work that he does.
16:51Uh, your thoughts just kind of on, on those extracurriculars that go into being at this,
16:56uh, at this level.
16:58Well, yeah, I mean, Jake is a phenomenal human being.
17:02You want to take the baseball side out of it.
17:04I know that's what we do and that's, you know, what we're paid to do is, is help win
17:08baseball games and, and be a really good teammate, but you also have a platform and you have
17:13a limited time to use that platform at this level.
17:16You hope to play 10 years, right?
17:18It's like a 1% chance that you play 10 years in this game.
17:21So what are you going to do with this platform that you're given?
17:24Luckily, you know, you look at what Corey Seager has done in this community and look what
17:28Jacob DeGrom and Evo, but Jake Berger, you know, obviously, um, has taken this to a new
17:33level.
17:34Um, and you know, every, every road trip he's, you know, visiting, um, different facilities,
17:39you know, with, um, you know, with kids with down syndrome and, um, is, is excited to do
17:44it, uh, and bringing other players along with them.
17:47And we had a group of guys go to visit kids with, you know, cancer yesterday at the child
17:52life hospital in Dallas.
17:53So we have a, uh, an amazing group of, of human beings, um, CY and Ross have always
17:59identified really good people first, um, to make sure they fit, you know, what we want
18:03to, uh, and be about in this organization.
18:06And, um, you know, Jake Berger's at the top of the list.
18:08So I'm very proud of him for getting that, uh, achievement.
18:12Yeah.
18:12Appreciate all of that insight right there.
18:15Three wins in the last four games.
18:17Good luck today and building up that winning streak.
18:19We'll catch up with you next week.
18:23Awesome.
18:23Thanks guys for having me on.
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