Red Sox SS Trevor Story joins! How can Story be the leader of this team? Goals this year?
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00:00And to my left, Greg, Trevor Story just showed up.
00:03So, I mean...
00:04Well, there he is.
00:05Yeah.
00:06Morning, Trevor Story.
00:07What's up?
00:08How you doing?
00:09I'm great.
00:10How are y'all?
00:11We were just discussing, or Mike Vrabel, the new head coach of the New England Patriots,
00:13was discussing the slip and slide that was deployed by Alex Gore a couple weeks ago.
00:18Yeah, man.
00:19That was fun.
00:20I actually got my kids out there and we put it to good use.
00:23So that was a good way to practice sliding for sure.
00:26What's the injury protocol for something like that?
00:29Yeah, I think we're good.
00:30You know, if you get hurt on the slip and slide, then you're in trouble.
00:35I mean, Chris Sale had trouble with a bike, if I remember correctly.
00:39Yeah, that's true.
00:40Well, speaking of that, I mean, it's been, you know, you had the big acquisition a couple
00:43years ago and, you know, showed up and there was a lot of high hopes for the signing and
00:48it's just been something that's been a failure to launch.
00:51How much pressure have you put on yourself this offseason to make it through a full year
00:54this year with the Sox?
00:55Yeah, man, it's top priority for sure.
00:58I think, yeah, like you said, coming here, the first three years have not been what I
01:05signed up for and not what I expected.
01:07So, you know, I kind of hang my hat on playing a lot of games, you know, 155 games is my
01:13goal every year and obviously I haven't come close to that the first three years.
01:16So we're doing everything I can possible to come into Camp Healthy and to produce those
01:22type of seasons that I was doing in Colorado.
01:24So that's where my mind's at.
01:26I know I put in the work and I know that, you know, the city of Boston will see that
01:31and that's really what I kind of hang my hat on.
01:34When they brought you...
01:35Sorry, go ahead, Greg.
01:36We were talking earlier about Lucas Giolito saying the chemistry on this team is off the
01:41charts.
01:42You've been here for three years.
01:43You feel the same way?
01:44You feel different about this team?
01:46I do.
01:47It's...
01:48And, you know, I think everyone, you know, kind of uses that coming at the beginning
01:52of spring training.
01:53Everyone's, you know, talking about that, but it really does feel different.
01:58And I think that, you know, it starts with, you know, the off-season acquisitions, the
02:03trades, the obviously sign of Bregman.
02:08It just felt like we were always in on everybody in the off-season and that wasn't really the
02:12case the last three years.
02:14So, you know, that fired up the boys and then, you know, when we get to camp and I was just
02:19talking to AC, like, everyone's just wants to get here early.
02:23Everyone's leaving late.
02:24We're having dinners every week and, you know, the ball talk is at an all-time high and I
02:28think that's what's been missing and the guys are just really hungry and really want to
02:33do well.
02:34And I think that's going to serve as well.
02:36Maybe you can recommend a place to that guy, Wiggy, right next to you there because he's
02:40not too impressed with the dinner down in Fort Myers.
02:42No, I didn't say the dinners.
02:43I was just...
02:44I'm not...
02:45I just need a beach close to me, like five minutes away there, but they got me stuck
02:48over here in courtyard and no beach.
02:51Yeah.
02:52I mean, to be honest, I've had a hard time finding a great spot too, but yeah, it's Big
02:59Herm.
03:00He cooks for us.
03:01He's AC's guy and he cooked us up some nice home-cooked meals.
03:04So yeah, I don't got anything for you.
03:06Greg's going to ask for Big Herm's numbers.
03:10When they brought you here, they weren't just looking for your talent on the field, but
03:13also your leadership.
03:14And I think Alex Corr has made that pretty clear.
03:16I liked what you said the other day about you needing to be in the fire with the guys
03:20to be the leader that they need you to be.
03:23Do you feel like this is the year where you're going to be able to do that?
03:26The addition of Bregman is also going to bring another leader, but bringing that into this
03:30clubhouse, I think, super important for you.
03:32It is.
03:33It's something that I take a lot of pride in and yeah, like I said, you can lead, but
03:39I think the best way to lead is on the field with your boys.
03:42The best ability is availability and if you can, you know, like I said, it's the top priority
03:50for me is to be healthy.
03:52We're doing all the things that it takes to be healthy over 162 plus.
03:57So you know, I take a lot of pride in it and I do not like missing games.
04:03It's the worst.
04:05It's no fun just watching.
04:07And you know, I feel like I've served my time, you know, trying to watch and lead from
04:13a different standpoint, you know, so yeah, it's time to do it on the field.
04:17Have you changed your approach in any way like, you know, like you said, so you're able
04:22to play that 155 if there's something that you learned that you're doing differently
04:27now to make sure because like you said, the most important thing is availability.
04:31So is there something that you've learned or maybe you're doing different now this season
04:35to make sure that you're able to get those games?
04:38Yeah, the training, you know, my guys back home and in the offseason are really good.
04:42And we've, you know, my specialty is athleticism.
04:47So like I'm we're really challenging that and just trying to grow in that area too.
04:52Obviously, the durability hasn't been there the last two years.
04:55But, you know, I think it's been more kind of injuries that you can't really foresee
05:01or just that are more freakish injuries.
05:04Obviously, last year was a freak injury and the elbow just kind of, you know, that one
05:11went on me too.
05:12So it was nothing, you know, that we could have done that we didn't do.
05:17So that's where I, you know, I have a little bit of peace in that knowing that, you know,
05:23I work hard and I know the things that I need to do on an everyday basis.
05:26I've done that for a while.
05:28And that's part of being a veteran and sometimes you got to, you know, see the things for what
05:34they are.
05:35And I think that's kind of where I'm getting getting back to.
05:39At shortstop, you could have a new third baseman and Alex Bregman.
05:42What do you think of the signing and what's been like playing with him thus far?
05:45Yeah, it's been good, man.
05:46He's I love the signing, obviously, right handed bat guy that pulls the ball in the
05:50air.
05:51He's gonna kill Fenway.
05:52I think you've already seen, you know, his first game.
05:55He's taking dead aim at it.
05:56And he just brings a lot to the offensive group, to the leadership, like we mentioned.
06:05And obviously, he's a goal Glover.
06:06So wherever he ends up playing, he's gonna, you know, solidify the infield even more.
06:10And yeah, excited to play with him on the infield because, you know, infield defense
06:15hasn't been our strongest suit.
06:17And I think that's, you know, I take that personally as a shortstop.
06:20So obviously, I need to be out there to help that as well.
06:25You've all obviously been focused a lot on third base.
06:28But overall, when it comes to competition for that position, there's going to end up
06:31being competition at other positions.
06:33Cora yesterday joined us said that he's going to see that at first at second.
06:37Do you feel like that is a benefit for the clubhouse right now, knowing that everybody's
06:42kind of fighting for their job?
06:43Yeah, it's good.
06:44It is good.
06:45I think, guys, it brings out the best in people.
06:49I remember, you know, we've all been in that situation.
06:52I think in 2016, I was competing for the starting shortstop job and you just it's a
06:59different vibe for sure.
07:00And you bring the you bring the best every single day.
07:03And that's kind of the way I'm attacking this this year, you know, with some of the positions
07:09are obviously set.
07:10But having that mindset can help a lot.
07:12It brings out the best in you and your other teammates, too.
07:15As Tristan Kasa said, you should start yet.
07:17I know he made some starts, some comments about what the roster should look like.
07:20I don't know if he's given you the all clear for shortstop yet.
07:23Yeah.
07:24Yeah, I checked with him.
07:25We're good.
07:26We're all good.
07:27Good.
07:28What is what would be the oddest thing that you've seen him do?
07:32Oh, man, man, man, man, I think keep it PG.
07:41I mean, he I don't know, man.
07:46I guess the oddest thing would be, I mean, the cold tubs in the morning, you know, just
07:53like at 430 a.m. is like a different level of commitment to it.
07:58Like that.
07:59Yeah.
08:00He's just he's all baseball.
08:01He loves it.
08:02He's obsessed with it.
08:03That's what I love about the guy, man.
08:04You know, he does some quirky things, some different things, but all he cares about is
08:08baseball and that's what he's locked into.
08:10So I can live with that all day.
08:12Sure.
08:13Do you have a P.S. in place at that 13 ballparks during spring training?
08:18Do you?
08:19So you guys can you'll have the opportunity to challenge balls and strikes.
08:22Do you do you like that when it comes to the Major League Baseball?
08:26Yeah, I think so.
08:28I think so.
08:29I'm a you know, I've been able to play in triple A the last couple of years on rehab
08:36and, you know, been a part of that.
08:37I don't think I ever actually use the system, but, you know, I think there's a I think there's
08:43a place for it in the game.
08:44I'm not sure exactly if it's, you know, when that happens.
08:49But yeah, I think like like the other leagues like NFL and, you know, you see some of these
08:56tennis matches, you know, they're using technology to help the game be called the right way.
09:01And I think that's, you know, you just hate to see something like that happen in a big
09:07game like in the World Series.
09:08And, you know, a bad call kind of turns the momentum of the game or even decides the game.
09:13So I'm all for it in that aspect.
09:15But I think we got to find the right place for it.
09:18Trevor, you talked about chemistry and Alex Cora talked about that yesterday, the vibe
09:22down here.
09:23I know when I played in the NFL, a lot of the chemistry was built in our training camp.
09:29How much of like the chemistry and, you know, what type of team that you're going to have,
09:35you know, maybe throughout the year happens at a spring training, which obviously is completely
09:41different than an NFL training camp.
09:43But how much of that chemistry can you really see being built that's going to be able to
09:46carry you guys through all the way throughout the playoffs and, you know, hopefully into
09:50the postseason?
09:51Exactly.
09:52Yeah, I think all of it, you know, some of it starts in the offseason where we're you
09:57know, we're talking, we're exchanging ideas, how to get better.
10:01You know, I host some guys down there in Texas and they come down and but yeah, this is where
10:07like you said, this is where you kind of set the precedent for the season.
10:11You get your, you know, how you're going to attack on offense, all these different
10:17conversations you're going to have and they happen here and they happen, you know, at
10:21the barbecues we're having, they happen.
10:24This is just the time for it, I believe and I think it's going to serve us well down the
10:29road because like I said, the ball talk is at an all-time high and that has been the
10:33difference I think in the last few years that I've been here, like guys are hanging around,
10:38guys are spending more time here, more time away from the field and I think that just
10:42lends to more chemistry and then once you get on the field, man, you know, you've kind
10:48of gone over these things, you trust each other and that goes a long way.
10:53I know you talked last week I think a lot about spending time with some of those younger
10:57guys and how important that is, you were talking about leadership, is that something that you
11:03focus on is trying to help those guys when it comes to adjusting to maybe making this
11:08team?
11:09Definitely, it's, you know, time spent with those guys, I think that's the first part
11:15of, you know, gaining someone's trust is, you know, if you don't have a relationship
11:19with somebody, it's hard to really have those words land so just spending time with them,
11:25getting to know them better and they've done well, man, they're, you know, Roman, Marcello,
11:30Casey, these guys are locked in, they're getting here early, they're following all
11:35of our footsteps and they want to be better and they're asking questions which is huge
11:40because I know when I was younger, I was a little scared to ask questions to some of
11:44the veteran guys but, you know, you come out of that shell as you get a little older but
11:49these guys, man, they're ready, from a maturity standpoint, it's incredible so it's been fun
11:56being around them because they're hungry, really hungry.
11:58Last season, there was a lot of talk about what the future was going to look like for
12:01Alex Cora here in Boston, for him to sign on for another three years, being a players
12:06manager, what does that vibe do for you guys this year now that that is kind of in the
12:10rearview mirror?
12:11Yeah, it's a big, it's a big thing, just kind of a breath of fresh air knowing that he's
12:17going to be with us for, you know, at least the next three years and just an incredible
12:22communicator, incredible, like you said, a players coach.
12:27He is a, you know, he's been in the fire, he knows what it's like to struggle, he knows
12:32what it's like to do well, to play infield, to play in Boston, to do all the things, he's
12:37done them.
12:38So not a lot of managers can say that and I think that serves him well and he's obviously,
12:44you know, a superb baseball mind and he's always thinking ahead and trying to, you know,
12:49push the game in different ways and he's taught me so much and I think, you know, having
12:54that guy at the head of our, you know, at the head of our dugout is just kind of a calming
12:59presence for everyone.
13:01How aware are you guys of the, I would, I'll call it the fan expectations, like the desire
13:12for fans to see this team be a playoff team this season?
13:18I mean, I think it's, I can only speak for myself, but I think it's always world series
13:24or bust, you know, that's our expectation, you know, that's why I came here, that's why
13:29I signed here and was to win and I think this year feels more, you know, like a realistic
13:39goal to where we can actually say that and, you know, every year you're, you have belief
13:44in your teammates, you show up to spring training, everyone's gotten better in the
13:47offseason, but, you know, when you add certain talent like we did, it sends a message and
13:52I think to the players and to the fans.
13:55So the theme of that playoff run in 2021 was, before you got here, was dancing on my own.
14:02Is there anything that is being played now that, you know, I don't want to jinx anything,
14:06but like what are you listening to in the locker room, do you have a choice for a potential
14:12playoff theme?
14:14We'll find something for sure, but like we talked about, that just has to kind of come
14:19organically.
14:20You can't force it and you cannot rush it, so.
14:23Greg loves hooves.
14:24Greg was hoping you said they not like us.
14:27Well, yeah, you guys were playing that yesterday.
14:29Yeah, that's playing everywhere I think.
14:32That'll squabble up.
14:34Yeah.
14:35Well, good luck, man.
14:38I appreciate that.
14:39Thanks for taking the time.
14:40Appreciate it.
14:41Appreciate it this morning.
14:42Of course.
14:43Yeah.
14:44Thanks, guys.
14:45Thanks, Trevor.
14:46All right.
14:47That is Trevor's story from Fort Myers.