- 12 hours ago
We're trying to get out the vote for our Washington Nationals to be All-Stars - and one of those in the mix, James Wood, stopped by the studio today to chat with G&D about the strong season, and of course a little Giants/Commanders!
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00:00We told you that James Wood spent some time at our headquarters today, Odyssey Sports, getting out the vote for
00:06Wood,
00:07who is the best outfielder in the National League this baseball season and somehow right now is 7th in All
00:13-Star game voting.
00:15Started the conversation by thanking James for coming down Half Street from the ballpark to kick it with us on
00:21this NBA Draft Day.
00:22Thanks for having me.
00:23Absolutely. So let's just start with, are you surprised at all with where you guys are?
00:28Over 500. We came to spring training. We met with everyone. Danny and I left and thought,
00:33wow, this is going to be a pretty fun team in a couple of years. A couple of years turned
00:36into like May.
00:38We met weeks.
00:39Are you surprised with what's happening?
00:41I mean, no, I think we all kind of knew what we were capable of.
00:47But I mean, I do think there's like a little bit of a surprise with how quickly it kind of
00:52clicked.
00:53And I mean, I feel like after the first series, like having the series win against a playoff team,
00:59like that kind of puts a little bit of belief into the team.
01:03And then you kind of just kept it going from there.
01:07How hard is that?
01:08Hard may not have the right word, James, but when a coach or somebody tells you,
01:12hey, if you do this, it'll work.
01:13And then you go, okay, maybe I'll try it.
01:15And then you start stacking some of those good results, whether it's individually at the plate
01:19or in the outfield or as a team, then it just kind of compounds, it feels like.
01:23And you guys are now a freight train.
01:24Yeah.
01:25No, I think especially early on, it's tough because especially with the new staff,
01:29like just kind of building that trust.
01:31But I just think a lot of all the guys are just super hungry and just wanted to just improve.
01:38So I feel like, I mean, everyone was just hoping to anything, really just trying to find any type of
01:44way to get better.
01:45James Wood ranking first right now among NL outfielders in runs, first in the big leagues as well.
01:50He ranks first among NL outfielders in walks, home runs, extra base hits, second in OPS, WRC+.
01:58It's been an incredible year for you.
02:01What would it mean for you to get a start in the All-Star game?
02:03It'd be your second time going, which is a lock.
02:05You're going to be there because people who know baseball eventually get a say in this thing.
02:09But what if you get to start in Philadelphia?
02:11Yeah, I mean, it would be pretty cool.
02:13I mean, just being able to represent D.C., I mean, especially in Philly.
02:18Hopefully get some booze there.
02:20Wear the jersey.
02:21I've never heard the phrase, hopefully get some booze.
02:24You know those are coming, I guess.
02:25Yeah, I feel like it's like a sign of respect.
02:27Like, I was in Atlanta last year and, like, you know, like, Schwarber gets up, he gets booed.
02:33I get up there, like, I didn't get as many boos.
02:35I was like, dang, I guess I've still got some more work to do.
02:38They didn't know yet.
02:39We have to boo this guy because he's tormenting.
02:41Yeah, we've been affectionately booing Freddie Freeman for years, right?
02:44And he's, like, waving and smiling when the boos rained out.
02:47It's like a sign of respect.
02:47That's actually a great point because the All-Star game was here in 18.
02:51And I do remember, like, loudest cheers were obviously the Nats, Bryce, and those guys.
02:55But just to torment the NL East guys that we hated was, like, the thing everyone did the entire week.
03:00So that would be a rite of passage, I guess.
03:02Yeah, for sure.
03:02Like, I remember, especially, like, it was in San Diego.
03:06I can't remember when, but, like, how loud did they boo the Dodgers guys there?
03:11That's, like, I feel like that's how you know, like, you've kind of done something.
03:15James, for you at the plate, the way that teams try to attack you, right?
03:19How do you keep your swing, your mechanics, all the things flowing still based on adjusting to what other teams
03:27are doing to try to get you out?
03:28Yeah, I mean, I feel like one thing I've learned a lot from last year is, like, obviously, like, these
03:36guys are really good, but they make mistakes as well.
03:39So just being able to realize, like, just obviously you're going to get out.
03:44It's baseball.
03:45Like, when you get out, like, all right, did he just make good pitches and there wasn't really a whole
03:50lot I could have done?
03:51Or was there a pitch that I could have been able to do damage on and either I missed it
03:57or I wasn't ready for it and kind of just learn from my bats in that sense?
04:02Second half of last year was rough for you, and you've been a pro about not really talking about some
04:08of what you're going through physically.
04:10But I've been watching you since high school, and you clearly weren't running the same.
04:13You had 15 steals all last year.
04:15You have 13 so far this year.
04:17Are we still going to do the thing where we pretend like you were just completely healthy and everything was
04:20fine?
04:20Or have we had enough time now where you can acknowledge, like, you just kind of weren't right last year?
04:24What would you say about that?
04:26I mean, yeah, I wasn't obviously feeling great.
04:28But, I mean, I don't think that's, like, I don't want to give myself, like, a cop-out or an
04:34excuse.
04:34I mean, my body felt good enough to play.
04:37So, I mean, yeah, I just feel like that's kind of the goal.
04:41I mean, by the end of the year, you kind of just want to be in better shape than anybody
04:45else.
04:45So, I feel like that was definitely a big focus going into this offseason.
04:49So, hopefully, instead of slowing down, we'd speed up through the second half.
04:54So, National Superstar James Wood on his way to a second straight All-Star game, with your help, could be
04:59starting in Philadelphia.
05:00Got to get out the vote at nationals.com and mlb.com slash vote.
05:05He was seventh in the last update.
05:07Got to get him into the top six so that he can be part of the next ballot.
05:10But the idea is to have him in the top three, ultimately, among outfielders.
05:15Specific to, like, adjustments you made this offseason, did you kind of know, naturally, there was going to be a
05:20leap here?
05:21Or were there certain things that you went back to the drawing board on?
05:24Because that was your first full year.
05:25And said, okay, the last 162, because you play every single day at your size.
05:29Like, these are the things I got to do different.
05:31Yeah, I mean, I think there's a little bit of both.
05:33Like, I feel like after the season, like, you kind of give it, like, a week or so.
05:37And then you can sort of step back and be like, yeah, like, here's what I think I did pretty
05:42well.
05:43And then here's some things that I didn't really, I wasn't too happy with.
05:47And I want to work especially hard on that.
05:49But, I mean, I just think it's kind of a little bit of both.
05:52I feel like you're just trying to improve, find any way to get just 1% better.
05:57Defensively, how are you feeling now?
05:59And how close to where you ultimately kind of set your goals?
06:03How close are you to those goals?
06:04Yeah, I mean, I feel pretty good defensively.
06:07I mean, I think the numbers don't look the best.
06:11But I feel like I've made a lot of good improvements.
06:13And I just feel like now it's kind of just locking in the focus and everything.
06:20I feel like I've done a good job with the preparation.
06:22So, now it's just a matter of just locking it in for the rest of the year, every pitch.
06:27Yeah, the transition from left field to right field, you seem way more comfortable.
06:31You've taken a couple of home runs off the top of the wall where you're just kind of like reaching
06:34up and getting a cup out of the drawer or something.
06:37But you're right, the metrics don't reflect necessarily what, to me, my eyes say you've been very solid defensively.
06:44Are there defensive things you care about or don't numbers-wise?
06:47Or is that harder to quantify, do you think?
06:49What's your take on that?
06:50Yeah, I mean, it's kind of tough because you go on – it just depends where you look.
06:59The Nationals have their own internal defensive thing.
07:03And then you go on baseball savant.
07:06That's the one I have access to.
07:07I don't have the Nats one.
07:09Could we get that one?
07:10Although, Paul Saboni or you would like to give it to me.
07:12I'd love a login whenever you're ready to give that to me.
07:15Yeah, but I mean, yeah, like it's just like there might be one play where it's like it says it's
07:2315% here
07:25and then it's 35% here and then like 50% on another.
07:29So, it's just like I feel like you kind of can go back and forth.
07:33Like some are better than the other.
07:35Like, savant isn't the best at like getting balls at the wall.
07:38So, like I feel like I use ours for that one more or less.
07:41But then savant's a little bit more available.
07:43By the way, speaking of the wall, so you've taken two homers away.
07:47I don't know what we have to do about the wall at Nats Park.
07:49You had two home runs that hit the very top of the fence and came back.
07:53And then Dylan had one the other night.
07:55I've never seen that once.
07:56Yeah, I was joking like we've got to like slant them like this way so when it hits them it
08:01like bounces over.
08:02That's three home runs that have been taken away.
08:04Like literally the top and came back.
08:07Bizarre.
08:07It's like they're spitting it out or something like that.
08:09It's like a bleacher creature in Chicago throwing it back.
08:11So, this is a philosophical question.
08:13You're so gifted, right?
08:15And you know that.
08:16And I'm not just blowing you up because you're sitting here, but you are.
08:18It reminds me of Shohei Otani who decides, this year I'm going to try to win the Cy Young.
08:22I can just like ramp that up.
08:23Or this year I'll hit 50 homers.
08:24Or this year will be the 50 steal year.
08:26You've got that kind of skill set.
08:28Maybe not pitching.
08:28But you could do a, I'm going to crash into the wall and dive and make every play in right
08:32field.
08:33Or I'm going to sell out and hit 50 homers.
08:35Or I can steal 40 bases.
08:36How do you decide what fader, just to make yourself see that you're still available,
08:40you're not killing yourself in one specific area?
08:43Yeah, I mean, that's a tough question for sure.
08:46I mean, obviously you want to go out there and give everything you can just for the team
08:52and for the pitcher.
08:53But, I mean, you also kind of got to know like the most valuable I can be is just being
08:59out there.
09:00Just being available, yeah.
09:01Yeah.
09:01So, like, yeah, it's definitely tough to find a balance.
09:04And I think I'm still sort of figuring that out.
09:07But, I mean, yeah, I just think, I don't want to say you have to pick your spots,
09:13but you just kind of got to know your limits and not try and overexert.
09:17So, to that point, I'm thinking of, it may have been last night, pitch up in the zone,
09:21hit a base hit to left center field.
09:23Maybe Jacob Young tears ass out of the batter's box and gives an aggressive turn.
09:28Maybe, you know, has to slide halfway between to bust it back.
09:31You're going, you know what, that's probably not a double.
09:33I don't need to go crazy and put myself in an adverse spot.
09:37Just kind of to your point where you're going, I'm picking my spot there.
09:40Yeah, but no one loves a hustle double more than me, too.
09:44So, I mean, if it's there, I want to put myself in a good spot.
09:46But if it's there, it's kind of your point, yeah.
09:48This could be just like an old man thing, too.
09:51Like, it almost feels like I'm your parent, like Kenny Wood saying this.
09:54But also, you've, like, never slid into second on a hustle double and not scared me.
09:58It's always, like, very limmy and just, like, you're always, like, when you slide in,
10:03like, you get there and you're just, like, have you ever just gotten up and been, like,
10:06that was totally an easy slide for me?
10:09No.
10:09No, and you said that and, like, I immediately thought of there's a double I tried to stretch out in
10:16Cleveland.
10:17Yes, you did.
10:18I remember that play.
10:19I'm, like, about to slide and Bazzana's, like, right where I'm about to slide.
10:24And I'm, like, dude, if I slide, like, I might, I'm taking his legs out.
10:28Like, I can't do that to him.
10:30So, like, it ends up just being, like, a terribly, like, awkward, like, play in the end of the day.
10:36But, yeah, I mean, that was, that was definitely one of them for sure.
10:40Get out the vote for James Wood.
10:42If you can send us to the 106.7 The Fan X and Instagram socials, receipts on you, maxing out
10:48your votes.
10:49You'll be entered into an opportunity to win a signed ball.
10:52James was kind enough to sign some baseballs for us.
10:54So, go vote for James Wood for the All-Star game.
10:57He is deserving.
10:58He's been the best outfielder in the National League.
11:01I want to talk challenging with you for a second.
11:04I don't think you've had a single challenge yet where when you challenged it, it was obviously not going to
11:09go for you.
11:10Like, Nassim had a couple earlier where it was, like, middle, middle.
11:13And I'm, like, ah, come on.
11:14Let's take that privilege away for a week.
11:16Every single one of yours has been by .0001 inches.
11:20And I now see you laughing a little bit.
11:21Even the ones that go against you the other way.
11:23You had one maybe last night where, like, a catcher challenge is.
11:26Yeah.
11:26And it's always, like, a seam of a baseball.
11:29Yeah.
11:30What's your mindset on that system now?
11:32And was it like this for you in the minors, too?
11:35I mean, I was also pretty bad at it in the minors.
11:38But it wasn't as bad going against me.
11:42But, I mean, yeah, at the end of the day, I think it's good.
11:46Because, I mean, I feel like it's doing its purpose.
11:50Like, I feel like if Umph's missing outside all game, like, I feel like he should know.
11:56You know?
11:57So, I feel like they're being able to get checked in that way.
12:00And I feel like it just, it's overall just made them better.
12:03But, I mean, with the challenges against me, I've kind of just been able to laugh at it.
12:08Like, we were playing Seattle.
12:11And, like, Mitch Garver was catching.
12:14He challenges.
12:14He's like, what do you think about this one?
12:16Yeah, what are they?
12:17Normally, there is a little back and forth.
12:18They always see Kbert talking.
12:19What are you guys saying?
12:21Yeah, it's usually like that.
12:22Like, what do you think?
12:23And I told him.
12:24I was like, I mean, I think it's a ball.
12:26But every time someone challenges, it just finds a way to, like, touch at least, like, some part of the
12:31zone.
12:32Is it because your strike zone is so big, do you think?
12:35Like, you and Judge probably have the biggest real estate in the sport.
12:38Yeah.
12:39I mean, I think it's a little bit of that.
12:40Yeah, and then it was weird.
12:42So, the year I debuted, I had the most, like, I was tied for the second with the most missed
12:47calls, like, going against me.
12:49And then last year, I was like, I had the most calls in my favor.
12:53Oh, really?
12:54I would say it's the other way.
12:55Yeah, it's weird.
12:56So, I think, and just talking to some umps, like, I think the hardest part is, like, going from, like,
13:02especially if Nas is hitting ninth, like, going from his strike zone to my strike zone.
13:06Like, that's a pretty big adjustment from the top and the bottom of the zone.
13:11It has been a game changer.
13:12We're talking to James Wood.
13:13Because now when you're out of challenges, it feels like, last year there was never such a thing.
13:18And now it's, like, such an affront.
13:19Like, last night, Dylan had a ball basically bouncing front of home plate at the end of the game.
13:23Yeah.
13:23Bases loaded.
13:24That's a run.
13:25That's a run.
13:26And they didn't have a challenge.
13:28But you could just tell he was, like, livid and reacted, blown mead and cruised back-to-back, so it
13:32felt worse.
13:33But it's just, it's so necessary, but only having the two, they're precious.
13:38Yeah.
13:38You've got to take care of those.
13:39But you've had bad luck so far.
13:41James Wood is with us here on Grant and Danny.
13:43So, a couple of things I wanted to talk about non-baseball with you.
13:46Today's the NBA draft.
13:47You're a hooper.
13:48You love the NBA.
13:48I know your sister works in the Spurs organization.
13:51The Wizards have the number one pick.
13:53Where are we going?
13:57I mean, I like Darren Peterson.
14:00I like, like, when I watch him play, like, I mean, he gets to his spots and, like, it, it,
14:07it, it, to me, it looks like a lot like Shea.
14:09Like, he kind of gets to his spots in the mid-range and, like, his jumper's smooth as I don't
14:13know what.
14:14But, and then he's super athletic, too, so, and obviously it was, like, the injuries, like, the cramps and all
14:20that, which I'm not worried about.
14:23But, but, I mean, AJ's also, he's a freak, too, so, I mean, you can't really go wrong.
14:28I don't know if Boozer's in the question either.
14:31It sounds like they're debating between those two, but forever it was the big three.
14:35Yeah.
14:35And now Boozer maybe goes third.
14:36I like Caleb Wilson's nasty, too.
14:40Probably fourth?
14:41Yeah, he'll probably be fourth.
14:42We didn't see enough because of that injury.
14:43But just that, that's, I feel robbed.
14:45Because that, like, someone 6'10 that can move like that, you just go, I'll figure it out, right?
14:50We were talking to one of the Wizards execs last year.
14:53And they said this is, they've done this for a long time, and they said this is one of the
14:56best drafts they've ever seen at the top.
14:58Now, they were lucky.
14:58I don't know if it's the best or the worst year to get one, theoretically, because, like, there's a lot
15:02of guys in that top three or four.
15:04It's a great year to get third.
15:05Yeah.
15:05Like, when there's a one prize, like a Wemby or a Cooper Flag, it's great to get one.
15:09But, not complaining, I'll take one overall.
15:11But, yeah, there's, you can't go wrong to your point.
15:13Yeah.
15:14Yeah, I mean, what was the year that it was, like, I think it was 24 when we got Saar.
15:21Second overall.
15:22Yeah.
15:22Reach to say, went first.
15:24Yeah, I mean, like that, I mean, Saar was getting Saar at two.
15:27It was also a great pick then.
15:30But, I mean, having won at this draft, I feel like, I mean, obviously, one through three, I feel like
15:36you're getting a really, or one through four, you're getting a really good player.
15:38But, I mean, just being able to pick your guy, I feel like also has got to be nice.
15:42I'd imagine you haven't played with any of the Wiz, just because I don't know when you would have.
15:45But have you played with anybody in the league at any point?
15:51Like, pick up or anything?
15:52No, no.
15:53Not that I know of.
15:54Like, maybe I played, like, when I was in high school, I might have.
15:57I think you told me you played with, like, some Spurs G-Leaguers or something at one point, right?
16:00Oh, yeah.
16:01I ran a practice with them, so.
16:03But that was, like, I was just helping out.
16:05Like, I wasn't, like, going five on five.
16:08You were just a jobber, like, putting your hand up.
16:10Yeah, literally, yeah.
16:11Really?
16:12I was, like, catching fast.
16:13Yeah.
16:15So, but go back to Peterson for a second.
16:17Obviously, the talent is all world.
16:19But that saga with him, with the creatine and the cramps, and then sort of, I think it led
16:24to him questioning a lot of stuff about, you know, oh, my God, am I going to be able to
16:27do this again?
16:28You ever face something like that as an athlete?
16:29Where you go, this thing you're so gifted at, you're so good at, I'm not sure I can do
16:33it right now physically.
16:34You ever gone through something like that?
16:36Yeah, I mean, I feel like baseball kind of, as you, like, in baseball can put you in a
16:41blender, yeah.
16:42So, I mean, like, I feel like I'm, like, I'm a lot better with it now.
16:47But, like, I mean, in high school, like, my senior year, I had a pretty rough senior
16:50year, and, like, there's times where I was like, ooh, like, I don't know, like, there's
16:55not, I don't have as much of, like, to go back on to really, like, be like, okay, yeah,
17:00like, I've gone through this, I know I'm good, and this and that.
17:03So, I mean, it definitely happens, I mean, especially, like, you see it a lot at the
17:07big league level, like, I mean, there's guys, like, it's just, it's even harder to struggle
17:13here, just because there's no level to, there's no higher level, so it's like, these are the
17:20best of the best, and, I mean, you sink or swim, so.
17:24James Wood of the Nationals.
17:26So, this is a bigger picture question, it's just something piqued my interest as I was watching
17:30my little guy, play youth ball for the first time this year.
17:33What are some of your thoughts on just the way the game's trending in youth baseball and
17:37travel ball, and I'm just curious, like, you went through it, you lived it, you played here
17:42locally, then went to IMG, and what would you tell young people listening in the DMV that
17:48might be multi-sport players or baseball players?
17:50Yeah, I mean, youth sports is crazy now.
17:54Like, I think it was starting to get kind of crazy when I was going through it, but
17:58like, I feel like it's kind of just, it's gone to another level now, but, I mean, I'll
18:03just say, like, play as many sports as you can for as long as you can, just, like, have
18:09fun, like, don't just lock in on one sport from 9 to 18, like, I feel like I see a
18:17lot
18:17of people who kind of did that, and you see, like, a little bit of burnout, and it's just,
18:23like, I don't know, like, I just think, just keep it fun is the most important thing.
18:28I think a lot of people and kids and parents, like, they want to be the best right now, but
18:34I feel like I've seen so many guys, like, even, like, like, Jackson Merrill, for example,
18:39like, he's always been a good player, but, like, he shot up, like, the draft boards his
18:46senior year, end up going in the first round, like, just, I just think, just keep it light,
18:52keep it fun, and then, obviously, there comes a time and a place where you got to get extra
18:56serious with it, but, I mean, just keep it fun for as long as you can.
19:00It's like, in the NBA, it's almost like a badge of honor to have that AAU team that's,
19:04like, in your name.
19:05Is that something you want to do for baseball, where it's like the James Wood traveling road
19:09show eventually, where you're, it's one part giving back, but one part, like, I beat your
19:13team, you know what I mean?
19:13You want, like, a little, little chirping, the Phillies version of that, right?
19:16Yeah, I know, I know Snell, like, Snell's got, like, his Snell Zillas, or...
19:20Oh, does he really?
19:21Yeah, he has.
19:21That's cool.
19:22Yeah.
19:23But, yeah, I don't know.
19:24I feel like you don't see that as much with baseball, but that's something I haven't really
19:27given much thought to, but it sounds like a fun idea.
19:30Yeah, the woodchoppers out of, like, Northern Virginia or something like that, right?
19:33The woodchoppers.
19:34It's funny.
19:36The Giants, something you haven't given thought to.
19:38The New York football Giants, the worst team in the NFC East.
19:40They are projected to win seven and a half games this year, so that sounds fun.
19:45That's nice.
19:45John Harbaugh, Jackson Dart, big draft class.
19:48How are we feeling?
19:49I mean, when's the last time Harbaugh's won less than nine games in a year?
19:54Well, he's never coached the Giants.
19:57So, that's going to make it more difficult.
20:01I'm feeling good, but, I mean, obviously, like, training camp, you get all the hype and all
20:05this and all that, so, I mean, I guess it doesn't really matter until week one.
20:10Did you see enough from Dart to think he's the guy?
20:13I mean, yeah, I definitely think, like, with what he did last year with, I mean, O-line was
20:19kind of beat up.
20:21Receiver room was beat up.
20:23Like, I feel like he showed enough flashes to, yeah, definitely give me enough hope.
20:27And then you go Reese and Maui Noah in the top ten.
20:30You have two top ten picks.
20:31It's going to look pretty good.
20:32Yeah, it ain't bad.
20:33But it's hard to do better than that on both sides of the ball, too.
20:36Yeah, I kind of, like, I've always thought, like, especially when they won the Super Bowls,
20:41like, they had elite D-line, O-line was pretty solid, and I just feel like, especially now,
20:48like, I feel like running the football's back, I feel like that's kind of where you got to
20:52build your team and build your team from there and then go out from there.
20:56Last one on baseball.
20:58Would you do the Home Run Derby again this year?
21:01I don't know.
21:02I don't know.
21:04I'll have to give it some thought.
21:06But, I mean, if I get invited, I mean, hopefully I'm in Philly either way, but I'll definitely
21:11give it some thought.
21:12You will be in Philly.
21:13The question is, are Nats fans going to get this vote out?
21:16And I think we're going to get them to now to get you up the board here to start in
21:19Philadelphia.
21:20But it'll be a second straight all-star appearance for James Wood.
21:23We appreciate the time.
21:24Thanks for coming in studio.
21:25Really means a lot.
21:26And look forward to seeing you at the ballpark.
21:28Hitting the ball over the wall here soon?
21:29Yeah.
21:30Hopefully.
21:30Appreciate you guys.
21:31Keep killing it, buddy.
21:32Yes, sir.
21:32James Wood of the Washington Nationals.
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