Larry Balkwill Chat

Larry Bock will join the Thunderbolt prior to the 2015 season. He played in 44 games as a catcher for the Thunderbolt that year. And he returns to Windy City for his second season in 2016. I'm very pleased to have him with me today.

Larry Bock will welcome to the press box. Thanks, Terry. I'm glad to be here. You are the first Canadian I've ever had on the air with me here.

And as far as I know, you're the first Canadian who's ever set foot in this press box. I have no idea if that's true, but it might be. So congratulations for that. That's got to be some kind of honor for you.

Yeah, I'll take it. So you are from Canada, but you're from actually very close to the United States border. You grew up near Michigan. So did you grow up a Tigers fan?

Were you just by virtue of being in Ontario? Did you latch on to the Blue Jays? I actually really like the Yankees. OK, I didn't consider that one.

It was well, you know, I was like any other kid, you know. It's really easy to like a team that keeps went in World Series after World Series. And then when I went to college in New York, I really got to take it in firsthand on how Yankees fans actually are. And that actually kind of brought me back to the Tigers.

So since then, I've been following the Tigers pretty closely. So yeah, Tigers are my team. Yeah, that's funny. So you grew up near Detroit.

Chatham, Ontario is where you're from. That's more or less a suburb of Detroit, is it not? It's in a different country. So I'm sure there's some differences culturally.

It's less than an hour drive away. Yeah, it's pretty much the only real city, because there's about 40,000, 45,000 people. So it's the only real city within an hour drive of anywhere, because you have Sarnia, London, and Windsor, which would more be the suburb of Detroit. But it's a lot of farm country.

It's a lot of small towns kind of just spaced out around cornfields. But yeah, it's within an hour. So I mean, you're close to the Tigers, you're close to the Red Wings, you're on the big Lions fan. Try to go to a couple of games every year.

So yeah, it's not far at all. You mentioned the Red Wings as well, but you are not a Red Wings fan, correct? No, no, I am a heavy, heavy Maple Leafs fan. You're in Ontario, but you are a lot closer to Detroit than Toronto, right?

Right, yeah, Toronto's about three hours away. We're at Detroit's only an hour. So why the Maple Leafs? Is that just a Canada thing?

You know what, Terry, that's a great, great question. I think I had an older cousin when I was young, kind of got me on board with the Maple Leafs. And I kind of wish I would have listened to my parents, because my entire family is Red Wings fans. I wish I would have listened to them, because three or four Stanley Cups in my lifetime, that would have been cool.

But somehow I ended up liking the Maple Leafs. And it's been a rough 10 years, but they have the number one pick this year. In the rebuilding process, I faith in the organization. So hopefully they can be more like a Chicago style team winning cup after cup, rather than a Maple Leafs team, not making the playoffs for 10 years.

A front running fans such as yourself who grew up in the 90s and became a Yankees fan, I would think would latch on more to the Red Wings. Right, right, right. I just, I don't know. I was young.

And like I said, I had that cousin that said, you know, why do you like it? You don't want to like the Red Wings. You want to like the Maple Leafs. And I'm like, yeah, I do want to like the Maple Leafs.

I don't know if I was going against my family or my dad or what it was. But ever since I was young, I've always been, I think growing up to a lot of guys around me, because I played hockey. A lot of guys, it was in my area, it's pretty much either Maple Leafs or Red Wings. And it's kind of split down the middle.

So I'd say the Maple Leafs are more like the Yankees of hockey, especially in Canada. Like they have a huge fan base, no matter where they play, they're just not successful like the Yankees have been. But yeah, I think growing up, the guys around me and that cousin I told you about, that's just, they got me hooked and I never looked back. But you are a big hockey fan as we've established.

You were in Chicago last year when the Blackhawks won the cup. What was that experience like for, I know you're not a Blackhawks guy, but just to be around that sort of thing. It's great because where I live, you know, it's the Red Wings have had success, but you know, you're away from Detroit, you're about an hour away. So actually being around all sorts of Blackhawks fans, at a time where they went to the cup and wanted it, it was an incredible experience.

It was very comparable when I played for Quebec my first year, because the Montreal Canadiens made it, I think, to the Eastern Conference final. And I was there for half of the first series in the next series too, and they were winning. It was like, holy, they are almost there. So it was a great experience, you know, like going downtown and seeing the mob of people.

We didn't get to go to the parade or anything. And we missed actually the day where the cup came to the stadium. I heard we were on the road that day. But you know, it was really cool to be in the city and be able to see all the fans just going crazy for them.

All right, we talked about it. I do want to get back into the focus of baseball. Obviously, you've stuck with baseball throughout your life. You're playing professional baseball right now.

When did it first become a part of your life, and why did it stick with you the way that it has? Well, my family has always been big baseball fans. My mom and dad both, they love the game. And I started playing.

I actually played where my dad's hometown is Leamington, Ontario. And I actually played there because my hometown didn't allow. I wasn't old enough to play in that league. So I played like half an hour away in other league, just so I could start a year earlier.

But yeah, I always played baseball in hockey too, played both. And then just got to the point where I started getting attention more so in baseball than hockey. And that's when I kind of said, maybe it will try it out and really start taking it seriously and see what happens. And good things didn't end up happening for me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've also read that you were a star volleyball player at high school. I don't know about star volleyball player, but yeah, I played. Yeah, because high school volleyball is big for boys volleyball. And my school was actually one of the top schools in Ontario.

We always compete. I guess it would be comparable to all states. We call it offs in Ontario. But we were in a weird place.

But yeah, we went to offs at twice. And I think grade 11 was kind of when I peaked because grade 12, I was doing more team Canada stuff. And I had to miss a lot of practices for football. Baseball started kind of controlling my weekends.

And I missed a lot of time. But yeah, volleyball, I had a lot of fun. That was one sport really where we go because it was high school. And that was the only really high school sport that I played because my high school didn't have high school and it was great being able to go to school with guys and hang out with them and be a part of the team setting.

And yeah, I was all right. I don't know about star, but I was all right. You had the right field for volleyball, I think. So I'm about three inches too short to play the position that I was playing.

And I'm 6'4". So it's like it shows you how crazy. And we had some guys that could really, really, a couple guys that went on and played in college a little bit. And they were really good.

It was kind of humbling because baseball, I was always kind of on the top scale. So when I got out there, I kind of took a look back and really had to work on getting better. But it was a lot of fun. You're a catcher primarily in baseball.

I know you played a little first base this year. And I know you played some first base in college as well. But primarily a catcher. That's a position that most guys don't just fall into.

It's a position that probably requires more work, something you really have to focus on. And it's not something you could just slide into if you haven't done it before. So where did the focus on catching come from for you? When I was 14, 15 starting to play really competitive baseball, my coaches were, and my dad too, they were kind of talking about what position I should focus on or whatever.

And some guys talked about shortstop or third base or outfield. I never really was too quick. Like I wasn't really a real speed stiffer running. I worked on and improved my running.

But catching was kind of where I had my focus. Because when I played baseball and I was young, we had only a certain amount of players that, not that the other players were bad. But to say competitive, we kept certain guys in the middle of the field between pitching, catching shortstop and center field. So I would get my time behind the plate.

I always had a good arm back there and could throw guys out ever since I was young. So kind of just got together and said, let's focus on catching. And if I end up getting moved later in my career, then so be it. But catching was just a position that you're never going to regret learning how to play it.

Because anyone that can catch and play another position becomes incredibly valuable at the higher levels. Did you ever play goalie when you were playing hockey? And for some similarities between those two positions? No, I never played goalie.

I was a winger. I always wanted to play goalie. I kind of looked back and gone, hey, maybe I should have strapped on the pads, but playing hockey in Canada is a big financial commitment for parents. And they make it as easy as possible to play the game.

But at the same time, it still costs a lot of money between the registration fees and the travel. And my parents' philosophy and my kind of philosophy is if we're going to pay that money, rather I would want to see me skating around with the puck rather than standing in net and blocking shots. But maybe I should have. But I always enjoyed playing goalie and pick up games when I did.

But it is what it is. I chose the wing. And that wasn't bad. I always thought that I should shoot for it later on.

Out of high school, you were drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round. And that's a later round in the draft. But at the same time, you're getting drafted by not necessarily your hometown team. But a team that's very close to where you grew up.

They had to have been tempting the sign with the Tigers. You chose to go to Sienna College instead. Take us through that process. How did you feel when you got drafted?

Were you expecting that phone call? And what was the thought process like when you decided to go to college instead? Well, I got the opportunity to play for the Canadian Junior National Team. So we did a couple of big tours at Disney's World World of Sports where we played teams, fall instructional teams.

And then in the spring, we would play their extended spring training teams. So I got the opportunity to play against guys who had already signed already in the Pro Ball circuit at quite a young age. And the Tigers were one of those teams that we played in extended and in the Dominican. But no, it was awesome.

It was unbelievable. I had gotten a couple calls before the draft. I didn't really expect to go high. I didn't really expect to get drafted.

I mean, if it happened, it happened. But I got a couple calls on day two and ended up day three late. They picked me up. I was actually at school.

And my mom called me right away because she was falling in on the computer. And then somehow, I don't know how the school got hold of it. But they announced it over the PA. Because in Canada, nobody plays baseball.

I mean, more now. But when I was young and where I lived, no one really played baseball. So for that to happen, it was pretty unique. So it was an awesome experience.

And I knew it was a late pick. I talked to the scout. He said, draft and follow. I kind of wait and see how the summer goes.

And I had a good summer. I was pretty set on going to school. Because I needed time to develop and get bigger and stronger, which I did. And it didn't go exactly as planned.

But I don't think me signing that time would have changed my career path drastically, right? Because the minors are minor league baseball is such an incredible, incredible commitment. And it's tough to make it. So I don't regret going to school or anything.

But it was awesome just to get your name called. But have your name called and get that call after from the scout. We heard at least over the school PA system. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

They announced it right over. And it was cool because it was the Tigers. So a lot of people were Tigers. And now with the Blue Jays having success, people are starting to really get back into baseball in my area.

So a lot of people are Tigers fans. And I still get it. I said, he would draft about the Tigers. I'm like, yeah, yeah.

It's cool. But yeah, it was a great experience. And I wish I think I should have appreciated it a little bit more. But the guys I was playing with, the guys other round, it was kind of normal.

But no, it was great. It was an awesome experience. You're still kind of a hometown hero. When you go back, you're the guy that got drafted, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still get asked if I go out or say something like they still remember. And they still do the little blurps in the local paper for when I'm playing here and everything. So there's still some people that are following me back home.

And you just appreciate anyone that follows me. She went to Ciana College, why Ciana? It was good school. It was close.

I went to one of my first visits. I had gotten a lot of attention in Michigan. And then I did kind of an East Coast scouting circuit with a couple of tournaments out there. And I talked to the coach, went up there for a visit.

I like the feel. I like the atmosphere. And for the big thing for me was I was going to get an opportunity to play as a freshman. I think I played close to 40 games my first year, because you get better by playing.

And it was kind of, I may have been able to go to a bigger school, but I definitely would have had to have bought my time and really waited for that opportunity. And whether you got as a sophomore junior senior, you don't really know where. Ciana, I was able to play two full seasons. And I got significant time my first two years, too.

So plus, they gave me a scholarship, a pretty good scholarship. And I like the school. It was a good fit for me. I really enjoyed it.

I've got your Ciana biography page pulled up right here on my computer. So as your major was history, you were an English minor, but your favorite class was finite math. You're going to have to explain finite math and get some points. I know what that is.

Finite math was the math class that they gave non-math majors. OK. So that's one that maybe I could have taken. Oh, yeah, yeah.

We learned how to cut pies equally. We did a math wrap that I don't think I remember for bonus marks. But it was, I don't know. I bet it's red on my own.

I don't know. I don't know. Me and my buddy did. He was a teammate of mine.

But it was one of the, it was one of the good professors. But it was one of the easiest classes that I took my entire four years there. So that was kind of an inside joke when I put that. But it was a fun class.

That sounds like my kind of math class. Probably the only math class that's my speed. What was the only way for you? You talked a little bit about baseball, but off the field.

How did you enjoy your college experience? Oh, I enjoyed it a lot. It was a smaller school in New York. It's a mid-major D1.

There was a big commuting population. So I ended up living with my teammates all four years. We had a house our last couple of years. And you really got to know kind of everyone knew everyone.

So there were a lot of people around. You just always had fun. It was small. The classes were smaller.

So I got kind of the one-on-one attention. And I feel like I really did get a good education through my four years. You got a lot of one-on-one availability with professors. And the thing that I like too was that through the athletic department, you really got to know maybe not so much the athletic director or the president, but the assistant ADs, the student-athlete counselor, really created personal relationships with those people.

And I ended up going back this past fall. And you get to kind of see everyone again going, hey, what's going on? And they still remember you after those three years after I graduated, where to big school, you don't necessarily get to create those personal relationships with the staff simply because there's so many students. After you finished in college, I want to take it actually to something that's going on in the frontier league right now.

I don't know if you saw a news a couple of weeks ago from the normal Cornbelters, they had to forfeit a game because they were using a Canadian player who didn't have the proper visa to play in the United States. You went through kind of something similar to that when you first started playing professional baseball in the States. You were supposed to go to the Pacific Association a couple of years ago. And it didn't quite work out for you.

And I think there were some visa issues involved there. Can you take us through that process where you first got signed to play professional baseball, and then suddenly you couldn't. Yeah, I was out in California where they saw me. And big was actually my manager out there.

And big's told me that he wanted me to play for him, but had a couple things to take care of here before I got that opportunity. So I got on his radar, which is what I wanted. And yeah, he sent me out to the Pacific Association. I was getting my workers visa through that team.

But it was a newer team and a newer league. And they didn't have the necessary requirements that the government required to give out a working visa. And the process just kind of got mangled because it didn't come in until spring training. And the manager out there ended up getting moved or something.

So it was kind of a big mix up. And it got to the point where they kind of just said, hey, we didn't have anyone that saw me play. And they kind of just gave up on the whole process. And for me, I had to wait until that request got denied.

But it didn't get accepted because they needed more information. So I was kind of in limbo until the end of July. So thankfully, I ended up getting picked up by Quebec because they're a Canadian team. So I didn't need a workers visa.

And I got a little bit of playing time there and really got my first taste of Pro Ball. And I really appreciate that organization for picking me up and giving me that opportunity because if that didn't happen, I probably would have missed an entire season simply because the workers visa didn't come in. But yeah, I heard about that situation with normal because I had a student visa my four years at Sienna. And I actually had a student work visa, but it only allowed me to work within the school.

And I wasn't able to work anywhere else because tax purposes of sure. But yeah, it was a crazy situation. But I think we'd all worked out the next year after they got the visa through the Frontier League. And it all went smoothly within a matter of weeks.

I'm sure you and I could talk for a long time just about visa issues because that's a conversation that could go on forever. But I'll move on past that. That 2014 year had to have been a pretty wild year for you because you're in the California Winter League and you think, OK, I'm about to start playing professional baseball. And because of the reasons we just detailed, you couldn't right away.

So there had to have been a period there where you didn't quite know what you were going to do. And then you got the call from Quebec. Take us through getting that call. And then your first professional season?

Yeah, well, it was actually I work at a facility in London, Ontario called Centerfield Sports. And I was training there, working there. And I had a friend who actually played against me at Conicius when I was at school. And he was playing for Quebec.

And he reached out to me to catch some pole pens. And I caught his pole pens. And he referred me to the manager of Quebec. So during that visa process, the manager of Quebec called me and just invited me out to spring training.

Just to hear about my visa issues. And he's like, you'll get an opportunity to get your work in, to get some of that, just kind of get your training. And so for me, it was a way to still have spring training because it looked like I wasn't going to make it a specific association spring training. So it was when I was out there that I got a call from California saying that there were some issues.

And they didn't really know what was going to happen. So I went back home kind of going, what is going to happen? I was very flustered because I didn't know. And I was in contact with Bega.

But the visa issues kept taking over. And then two weeks later, Quebec had an injury. And they invited me back out there. And I actually got to be on the roster for almost two and a half months.

And if it wouldn't, I don't know if I would have even been playing. Now, if I didn't get that opportunity out there to get a taste of what Pro Ball is about. But yeah, it was a crazy time. But thankfully, it all worked out.

And then you went back to the California Winter League after that season. You played once again with Ron Bega. And this time, he offered you a contract. You came to Crestwood last year.

And you were a member of the Thunderbolts for that whole year. Were you expecting that when you went to the California Winter League last year? Were you expecting getting that contract? Yes.

Bega and I had been in contact all through the 2014 season. He actually wanted me to come here. But the visa issues kind of prevented me from there. And it got to the point where it was by the end of the season.

It just wasn't worth it. But he had talked me after the season and said he wanted me to come out here and was going to give me a contract. I went to the California Winter League again just to get my work in because I didn't play a whole lot with Goback. And I wanted, you know, if you have to play to get better, right?

So I wanted to make sure that I got out there and showed what I could do. And I ended up getting an invite to Arizona Scout Day camp thing before spring training last year. So nothing's expected, especially an independent ball. You can't really sit on what one guy says or what another guy says.

You have to go out and get it. And so I went out there for me just to make sure that I showed well and that I wanted to be a guy that Bega wanted on his squad. And so after that happened, I think I actually ended up signing a contract just before I went out there in January. But yeah, I went out there just to make sure I got my work in and that just to show what I could do and that I wanted to show that I wanted to play and be a part of the team.

So you spent the full 2015 season with the Thunderbolts. And you got a pretty fair amount of playing time as well appearing in 44 games for the Thunderbolts. Of course, the team didn't succeed quite as much as we all hoped. But overall, it had to have been a great experience for you getting a full season of professional baseball and getting to spend a lot of time as a starting catcher.

What was your overall impression of your first full season in Pro Ball last year? It was definitely a learning experience. Like you said, the team, we had some success. So we had a lot of failure, though.

I thought our team was better than our record really showed. For me, though, it's 96 games. And 96 games is a lot of baseball. And that's a little bit less than what affiliated minor league teams play.

But it's still a long season. And for me, it was good being with the team the full season, going through the ups and downs and really learned a lot. And I think the biggest thing it did was help me this past offseason on how to prepare for another season, because it's a lot of us trips. It's a lot of games.

And you've got to be ready to play every day. But it showed what I did well in the field. And it showed what I needed to work on, what I needed to improve. And I think I looked in the mirror this offseason and said, OK, this is what I need to do to get better, to have success this season.

And I think a lot of guys that were on the team last year that are still on the team this year kind of came back with a good attitude. Because we were confident in our team last year. It just didn't work out. So I think this year we came in.

And a lot of the new guys, too, everyone came in with an attitude that we're going to get our work in. We're going to play hard and just control what we can control and see what happens. Take us through this past offseason, because you finished with the Thunderbolts last September. Did you know that you had a spot on the roster once again this year?

And what was your mindset like knowing your professional baseball player now? This is your actual job. And now you've got to find another way to spend the next seven months. Yeah, I did know I was coming back.

So that put my mind at ease, because the first time since I graduated college that I knew I had somewhere to play the next year. So for me, that was good. It kind of gave me a little bit of time to relax. But then also gave me that motivation to really work in the off season.

I got to work with some great guys. Because like I said, I work at the facility where we have three guys with big league time on staff. And then three or four other guys that have significant minor league affiliated and independent ball experience. So for me, I really made a point of trying to learn as much as I could from those guys.

Take in everything I possibly could from all the, because we have, there's another catcher that played in the big leagues. There's an outfielder. There's an infielder with big league time. There's a first baseman.

There's a shortstop. So we kind of had a guy who played at a high professional level at every position. And all different types of hitters. So for me, I kind of looked at the kind of player I am, the kind of player I want to be, and took what I could get from those guys.

And they, I owe them all the credit in the world because they worked with me all off season. And I also got to work with a couple of younger guys that had just been drafted and were starting their professional careers too. So it was just, it was a good atmosphere. It helped me stay motivated.

And I'm just hoping that it kind of reflects this year. I think it has early in the season. And just kind of keep to that same game plan. It's a process.

It's a long process. It's a long season. Just kind of keep my head on it and keep working to get better. Eventually, your baseball career is going to end.

At some point, you're going to have to start thinking about what comes next. So whether that comes next year or 15 years from now, do you have any thoughts about what comes next in your life? Yeah, I have some thoughts. I try not to think about it too much because, you know, if you're in the middle of the season thinking about the end of your career, it's not exactly the best mindset you want to bring to the field.

But yeah, I've got a couple of ideas. Like I said, I work at the facility. And I know there's a coaching job waiting for me when I'm done there. So just kind of networking, keeping my options open and waiting to see, take it year by year because people ask, are you going to play next year?

Yeah, I don't know. We'll see what happens. I'd like to play as long as I can. Everyone says you want them to force you to put the jersey down.

They have to take the jersey off your back. And so for me, I don't think about it much. I do have a plan. I do have some options I think when I choose to be done playing.

But for now, I worry about today's game. And then when today's game's done, I worry about tomorrow's game. Let's look a little pass the baseball field. Try to get to know Larry Ball for a little bit better.

Let's make it rapid fire here for the next couple of minutes. What are some of your hobbies off the baseball field? Working out. I love to work out.

I'm always in the gym. But I like to read. I like books. I watch a lot of documentaries on Netflix.

I love Netflix. I think everybody loves Netflix. I have the Xbox. And I actually like a lot of classic video games, like N64.

I'm not so much in the off season, but I do dabble in those. And I like watching hockey. I'm crazy about fantasy football, me and Cody Kiever actually. We didn't win the league, but none of the guys that won came back to the team.

So we're going to take credit for winning the league. As far as any of the new guys know you won. Exactly. We've finished the other guys in the locker room.

We've finished above them. So we're going to chalk that one up as a win. But yeah, fantasy football and watching football every day. Stuff like that.

All right. You mentioned reading. And you mentioned documentaries. What's the best book you've read recently?

And what's the best documentary you've seen on Netflix? It's the best. But I actually just reread all of the Game of Thrones books. Just I love Game of Thrones.

It's just I read them four years ago, I think. And I wanted to refresh your course for this season. Because this season, they're moving into new territory. Because the books are now.

So I wanted to make sure I was refreshed on everything. So Game of Thrones would be the best book that I've read recently. What was the other question? Sorry?

You mentioned the documentary on Netflix. Yeah. What's one of the better ones you've seen? Cosmos, a space time, honestly, that's narrated by Neil Grass-Tyson.

I love that one. I can watch that one anytime. And I actually just watched a PBS documentary on the Civil War. It was like a 10 part series.

One of my favorites. Yeah. Just because when I studied, because I was a history major at school, so I had to do, I didn't focus on American history. But I had to take American history.

And for me, it's not that it was new. I had an idea. But actually studying it was the first time I had ever studied it. So we went in my two American history classes.

We went from right before the American Revolution to the Civil War, and then post Civil War to modern day. And completely skipped the Civil War. And I never took a Civil War class. And you obviously don't learn about the American Civil War in Canada, right?

So I had never actually gone in. And then I saw this documentary. I'm like, yeah, it'll be worth a watch. I actually really enjoyed it.

Have you ever seen the baseball documentary and the similar style of Ken Burns baseball? Because that would be the next one then. I would do that. Ken Burns baseball.

I would do that. I would do that. Ken Burns baseball. Is that the money by the courts?

I was a baseball documentary made for PBS about 20 years ago or so. Really? If you're interested in the history of baseball. Yeah.

I'll be able to sell a vein to the Civil War one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've got a program on my computer. So I can definitely look it up.

All right. I'm going to get you out of here on this one. I'm trying out my new exit question right now. One of my favorite TV shows is Jeopardy.

I don't know if you're a fan of Jeopardy. Although Alex Trebek is a fellow Canadian. Yes, he is. At the end of the first segment of Jeopardy, they come back from commercial.

Alex tries to get to know the contestants a little better. If that were you, and you were on Jeopardy, you had that one moment. You did one story to get across to Alex that you wanted the national television audience to see. What's your one story about yourself?

My one story about myself. This is a story or an interesting fact. Something if you, I mean right here, I've given you a half hour basically to talk about yourself and let the listeners get to know you a little better. But let's say I condensed this 30 minutes into 30 seconds.

What do you want to say? Jeez, what do I want to say? I want to say that within the next three to five years, I think the Maple Leafs are going to win the cup. And that's a bold statement.

It is bold and we don't have it recorded. You heard it here first. I don't know. It would probably be to get drafted story to be honest, simply because that's probably the coolest thing that's ever happened to me.

I could talk about the total wine brawl we had when I was 14 years old playing hockey. But other than that, I don't know. You put me on the spot. I don't think I have the whole thing.

That's the point to put you on the spot. Oh, geez. No, that's why I think you've given us some good information. I won't push you any further.

I appreciate it. All right, Larry Bock, Will Thunderbolts catcher, and sometimes first baseman. Thanks a lot for joining me and spending some time out of your game day preparation to talk with me here in the press box. Say good luck to you the rest of the season, both individually and of course, good luck with the Thunderbolts as well.

Thanks a lot, Terry. I appreciate it.