 Erin after a long spring and answering a lot of questions yesterday. How anxious are you to just get the 2019 season started today? Yeah, really excited. You know a lot goes into this day. Obviously, you know off season preparations long spring training days and now we get to go start to find out and So it's an exciting time an exciting day and and all that comes with this day and You know feel like we're very much ready to go Kenny Erin uniform has the armband in memory of Mel Stottelmeyer. How long did you get to know Mel? I don't know you intersected for a few months and what does it mean to you to attribute him in that way? Yeah, I Think it's awesome. And and you know just being in the clubhouse this morning at breakfast and kind of had his accomplishments up on our Board so the guys were talking about it and looking at all his complete games and everyone's like whoa And just you know, I had probably this similar experience to a lot of you that have Covered him and just a really great guy and you know, obviously when I came here he's the pitching coach and Someone that just embraced you right away made you feel part of the team made you feel part of the family So it'll it'll be an honor to wear That in his memory Who else Jack I have a feeling this will be the first of many lineup questions throughout the year, but why Why'd you assemble your lineup the way you did today? I'm thinking principally two through six You could have had bird to maybe split up some of the varieties. I'm wondering why you went that route Yeah, I considered Once I made the decision to go with with bird I Did consider kind of anywhere in that fifth to seventh range But just felt like this is the way I wanted to go You know We obviously aren't ideal in that we have the perfect balance of right left So anywhere you put him he's splitting up some so I just feel like I've liked the look of Maggie and Where he's been all all spring mostly hitting them in that five spot when we've had all our guys I like Gary there six and then Then felt like it was a good time there to split up birds. So There could be times when when he moves into a different spot, but basically my decision was settling on anywhere from five to seven and and That's how I came up with it Koli back right Actually piggybacking off from that excuse me piggybacking off of that. You've got Glaber 8th to low 9th Of course Glaber was nice a lot last year. Just what went into that? Yeah Obviously Glaber was so dynamic for us in that nine hole and and could envision him being there But I feel like I feel like our guys by and larger and In a really good place right now So it's a matter of just Splitting guys up Glaber is a guy that I Could envision hitting in a lot of spots this year, you know, probably You know anywhere from first to nine frankly. I mean so Settling in on him in that eight spot, you know, I feel like he handles lefty so if you got into a lefty situation where they wanted to face bird and and Glaber coming in right behind them. I like that but But it's one of those that I could have put them ninth to because I do like them in that slot But I feel like we're in a lot of ways, maybe a little bit deeper this year John in the middle on the right Obviously last year was a lot of a loss here for Gary. What are you seeing as you start off this year that you weren't seen last year? What's different to a health First and foremost and not that at the start of season. He wasn't healthy, but I think there he's he's at a different level physically And where he came in Everything from conditioning to just healthier body parts. I feel like he's a more flexible I Feel like there's his intent is really good I feel like being a player that's as talented as Gary is When you go through some bumps and you go through some adversity as a young player in this game It's not the end of the world. It's it's a chance for growth and I really feel like he's grown so much having gone through what he did last year and Actually finishing the season in what I thought was a really good place having impactful quality at bats catching well and then going into the offseason with a mindset that I Want to be really great at this game and and that encompasses everything that you know as a catcher There's so much that goes into that obviously behind the scenes and I feel like he's done the work He's ready to go and I'm really excited about where he's at right now Tyler in the middle. You just pass it over Hey, Aaron Obviously you had a great season last year and you got a full schedule ahead, but how much is it on your mind? Or are you guys conscious of the fact that it's been 10 years now since his team's been to the World Series? It's we're a long way from that. I know but that's how things are measured around here. How much do you think about that? Yeah Not a lot. I think of it in terms of one of the reasons you sign up to do this is You want to win a championship and I think everyone in our room has that expectation and I think rightfully Has that expectation because I think we were one of the teams that has the potential to do that so But we're a long way between now and then so as much as You know, that's the intent You know we kind of also get lost in the day and lost into the grind of things that start right now where we got to take care of the next pitch and That's what I want our focus to be and you know I've said the one thing I have said about this group and and a lot of these guys now having been through the last couple of seasons where They've had a lot of success, but you know ended in a disappointing way I do think that's added to the hunger and and You know, I do like the intent and the hunger that these guys I feel like are showing Day in and day out right now clap against the wall to the right Aaron can you talk about Torres and Andrew Harna they've set the bar pretty high both of them and the challenges ahead that they're not gonna be able to take anyone by surprise Yeah Obviously really talented young players that had massively successful seasons in their rookie campaigns With both guys I think they went out and had a great winter as far as Getting their bodies ready to go working on different things that they both wanted to work on to improve themselves I feel like they're both driven. I feel like they've both had really good springs and are ready for this you know the the one message that I would have for them is Don't feel like you got to go out do you know These guys are driven enough. They want to be great at this game But my message to them is go be really good at your craft and the and the results will take care of itself If you're continuing to to work on your game and work on your craft because of the talent that they have but don't feel like you got to go out and and And go one up last year, you know, it's a hard game and and Go get better at your game and and for those two players the results will follow Couple more if there are any Jack Aaron and a lineup that has a former MVP in Stanton judge 50 plus homers Sanchez 30 plus and do hard finish second in the rookie of the year Your cleanup hitter is a guy who spent the beginning of last season at AAA What is the message in there about the Luke Voigt story and and the ascension that he has had? I think it's just our belief and and who he is, you know go back to You know when we kind of targeted him targeted him as an organization that we felt like this was in a lot of ways an undervalued player And then once he did get his opportunity here He he took full of that advantage like a lot of our guys have you know I he kind of kicked the door in and took it and He's another guy that's worked really hard this winter to work on on his game, and I think What he does so well is And why I like him in that spot in the middle of our order is he controls the strike zone and Hits the ball with authority in the air, especially the ability to drive it the other way in this ballpark. So It's just my opinion our opinion of you know What we think he is as a as a as a consistent hitter To the left Nate Aaron the The patch on the other sleeve commemorating 150 years of Major League Baseball And I feel like your family has probably been involved with half of those season at least Just what does it mean to kind of keep that linear July then and be part of this institution of Major League Baseball? Yeah, you know what I don't take it lightly to Put on a Major League uniform and and be a part of opening day Especially to do it in pinstripes and such an iconic uniform for such an iconic franchise You know one of the things that you know, I even relayed them my players is today's a celebration of our sport and I really believe that and Since I was a little kid opening day has always meant a lot to me. It's something that I cherish respect Honor even going back to my little league opening day. So It's a big deal and and I hope guys get a chance to Appreciate and soak it in a little bit Take a last one to the right here Even going back to his days in Japan Tanaka seems to be a guy who has always Embrace the big stage and there's a different element to opening day So is almost an extra sense of comfort handing the ball to a guy like him come emering a new season Yeah, Massa's Certainly cut out for this You know, he's he's such a perfectionist that at his craft and I've talked to you guys before You know, he's one of those guys. I just love to watch him work at his craft You know, you go watch him in a bullpen and that the intent and the focus and the precision that he has Yeah, I mean always great comfort when I hand the ball to Massa and Excited that he's gonna kick things off for us today