Splash Considerations Ep. 24: An Interview with Casey Schmitt

On Episode 24 of Splash Considerations, Justice is joined by superutility man Casey Schmitt to discuss his ability to play around the diamond, how he's acclimated to left field and what's fueled his offensive production over the last calendar year. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to another episode of Splash Considerations. My name is Justice Delosantos, San Francisco Giants Beat reporter for the Bay Area News Group, San Jose Mercury News, East Bay Times, whatever you want to call us, as long as you read, as long as you subscribe. And speaking of subscribe, subscribe to us on YouTube. Follow us on Apple, follow us on Spotify. A lot of things in this world cost a lot of money, but subscribing and following, those things remain free 99 in just a moment of your time. And I'm joined now by the Virtuoso versatility, the man having a career year. Casey Schmidt, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

How's it going? Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Casey, before getting into the baseball, something outside of the realm of baseball that we got to discuss that's near and dear to your heart. Mexico's 2-0 win over Ecuador. First win in the knockout round in 40 years. How are we feeling?

SPEAKER_01 0:47

I mean, it's a great feeling. I didn't I didn't get to get the team for our like team uh our team poll, but uh, you know, I'm really excited to see it.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

I do have to ask, you know, Mexico did play South Korea. There is a certain South Korean player in your clubhouse. Did you you talk any trash to Jung Hoo after that win?

SPEAKER_01 1:07

No, not really. But uh I think uh gosh, what was it? It was a couple when we were at home, they put on the scoreboard and I I saw it and I kind of looked at them and it was it was funny.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Awesome stuff. Well, good luck in in in the next round as well. But you know, you're obviously in the midst of a career season, not just offensively. You played all over the diamond, you played first, second, third, short, left field, DH. I'm pretty sure if they ask you to catch, you might be able to catch as well. You do have the closer experience at San Diego State. So I I do have to ask, is is there a secret to being as versatile as you are?

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Uh, I mean, I don't know. I think I think early on in my career I kind of struggled with it. It was a lot harder. Um, you know, trying to you know juggle the different positions. Um, but I think as I've been able to do it to do it for the last couple of years, I think I've just kind of gotten a little a little you know used to the the routine of you know staying fresh at every single spot.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

I have asked you about this, you know, just off cameras, off recorders, but I think you have told me you've had as you have as many as 14 gloves. Um just what has been the process of accumulating as many as you had? Because I know you have the first basement, I think you have separate ones for second base and shortstop, obviously the left field one. Just what has been like the process over the years of accumulating as many different gloves as you have?

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Uh I I'm I'm like a glove freak, so I love I love gloves. Um I always have since I was little. Um even at my at my parents' house, I in my old room, I always I I have all my gloves that I've ever used. So I'm like I'm like a pack rat when it comes to when it comes to having like different baseball gloves. But uh yeah, I have oh gosh. I think it's it is close to like 12 to 14. I got the the first base glove, then I got you know a third third base glove, then I have a backup third base glove, and then there's like multiple backups of that one, and then I got a glove that I can use at short and second, and there's another glove that I can use it at short and second. So it's like it's just like layers of different gloves, and then the outfit glove, multiple outfit gloves now.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Do you name your gloves?

SPEAKER_01 3:23

No, because it it would it would I would completely forget. I I've I've actually tried to do that in the past, but then I would already I like would always forget what I named it, and I'm just like, damn.

SPEAKER_00 3:32

Well I I know you've shared this story before, but you know, in the lead up to you playing left field, you tried ordering a glove online. Uh what's not the right glove. Can you can you share that story? Can you walk through that story?

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Yeah, I ordered a so when they told me that that was gonna get like reps out there, I I kind of like I like panicked, ordered a glove just so I could have one. So I could, you know, because you know, the Amazon Prime, you know, they can get that to you next day. Um see I ordered it and I I did it super fast, and I didn't realize that I clicked the left-handed glove on the link or on the on the app. And so when I was opening the glove, I was so excited to like get it. You know, I first saw you know, outfit glove, you know, whatever to open it left hand and I went, oh damn. I messed up.

SPEAKER_00 4:21

So did you pawn that off to someone? Do you give it to someone, or you just send it right back?

SPEAKER_01 4:25

No, I I I sent it back. I was disgusted with myself.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Well, Jeff Bezos gonna begin. You're not gonna let let him take any money that's not necessarily necessary. Um but you know, as far as as I mentioned, all the positions that you've played, and I I think I was digging on Stathead the other day, and I think there's only been like five Giants to play at least three games at all the positions that you have. And so what is that process of preparation on a day-to-day basis like? On a day like today, obviously with Matt Chapman being out, you're probably gonna be at third base, but you know, what is that process? Because you know, there's also games where you start in left field, you move over to second, or you start in the infield, you move to the outfield. Like, what does that look like in the lead up to first pitch for you?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Uh it just it kind of just depends where I'm playing. Um, you know, if I'm playing third, then I'm doing all my work at third base. If I'm playing short, then I'm doing all my work at short. Um, or same thing with second, first, you know, left field, whatever it is. Um, but it's it's just it's really just trying to just stay fresh at every single spot, um and just keeping keeping working, keeping the work with Wash um in my routine has been a uh has been a big thing for me. And uh yeah, I think that's really helped me to like just stay sharp at every single spot and um and just to keep that that confidence level in there.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

You mentioned working with Wash, and I'm pretty sure everyone who has worked with Wash up to this point has a story. I guess that kind of includes me too. Uh just what has the process been like of working with Ron Washington since spring training?

SPEAKER_01 5:59

It's been good. I at first I was at first I was like I was really struggling with it because it was like it was a lot, it was hard. Uh but as I as I kind of just started getting to like the little routine of it and started understanding it a little more and uh just doing it the right way. Um I I love it, I love doing it. So it's it's something I look forward to every single day.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

Do you have a favorite washism that he hits you with?

SPEAKER_01 6:23

I don't know. He's a big he's a big uh he's a big trash talker. So you go in there and you you'll he'll talk some trash in there, and then I'll give I'll give it right back. He's he's the man I love working with him.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

Yeah, obviously for all the infield that you've played, the majority of your time this season has been in the outfield, a position that you hadn't played since high school. Just what has that process been like of acclimating to left field and who's maybe really helped you know with that learning process of getting used to left field?

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Yeah, I think just I think just it's it it's a little it's still you know a little foreign um just because I haven't been out there in so long. I think the last time I was really out there was in out was uh in high school. Um but just just working with Shane, working working with Ting, and just trying to just get the reps in and just trying to be you know as confident as as I can be out there. And uh yeah, I I really enjoy being out there. It's a lot of fun, you know. There's a lot of there's a lot of uh you know, a lot a lot of space for you to just to go out and go get balls. So I like that feeling.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

What would be your honest assessment of how you perform defensively in left field as a high schooler?

SPEAKER_01 7:31

As a high schooler? I think I was I think it was pretty it was pretty good out there. Um I know obviously it's it's it's different now because it's the major leagues, but uh I think in high school, I think I I think it was pretty good, but you know, there was there's no one that was that was hitting balls, you know, thousand feet in the sky.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

I mean obviously it's different too with Oracle because you know you're a lot more closer to some of those fans in the bleachers. Have you had had any fun conversations with anyone out there or kind of you know participated in or like heard any of the the dialogue going out there or maybe seen any fights out there?

SPEAKER_01 8:06

Uh fun conversations, no. Um I guess sometimes when I throw a ball to like a like a kid or something, um, but it's it's usually it's usually someone you know talking crap to me. So I just like whatever.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah. It's obviously a very short amount of players that you know not only have played as many positions as you are, but are just kind of capable of doing that. And you know, in your ability to go out to left field, it's really opened up, it's you've kind of been the skeleton key, sort of, so to say, you know, unlock in unlocking a lot of lineups. Just how much pride do you take in being able to play the amount of positions that you have and really allowing Tony Vitello to have as much flexibility, you know, with his lineups as he has because you can play so many positions?

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Yeah, I think it's it's it just because it just goes because I want to I've always said, you know, I just want to be in the lineup um, you know, as as every single day. Um, you know, my first my first two years I spent you know a lot of time not playing. And you know, that kind of it kind of it kind of sucked, but it also it also fueled me. So uh just getting the opportunity to be in there every single day and just doing anything I can I can do, um, you know, whether that's you know, play second base, play first place, play shortstop, play left field, you know, whatever, whatever it takes just to get in there.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

I guess among the two positions that you know you hadn't had professional experience, that being first base and left field, have uh have you found either of them to be more fun than the other? Have is just what has been the process like of you know those two positions in particular?

SPEAKER_01 9:39

Yeah, I think I think left field is probably the more fun one for me right now. Um just because I I like I like being able to go out and run around. Um first first is hard, but first I I do like playing first too. Um but I think I think the the one that I've I love the most, other than like obviously the infield is probably like death, is being able to work in the outfield, learn that a big part of you being able to be in the lineup as much as you have isn't just the defensive versatility, but the fact that you've really taken off offensively.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

It's it's funny that we're in Denver right now because this is kind of the place last year where you know things really took off for you, and over your last 150-something games, it's been 28 homers, 80 RBIs. Just what's been the biggest thing for you offensively that's allowed you to take the strides that you have?

SPEAKER_01 10:29

Just thinking myself was probably the the biggest thing um and not trying to do too much. Uh just I think just looking back at I kind of just look back at like the you know the my first two years, you know, coming up and down and trying to do too much just to stay. Um, but instead of you know looking at it like that, it was more of just I'm just gonna go out there and I'm gonna play and do what I can do and you know, just try to help the team win any way possible, and you know, whatever happens, happens. And I think it's kind of taken the the the stress off of myself and it's just been like okay, okay, I'm gonna go out and I'm just gonna play and do my thing and not trying to do too much. And that's that's kind of been the the whole my whole motto this year is uh just go in and play relax and and not go up there and do too much.

SPEAKER_00 11:18

I guess it's one thing to say to not do too much, it's another thing to actually execute that. Just how have you allowed yourself to you know actually not do too much, to play more relaxed? What was that process look like for you?

SPEAKER_01 11:30

Just taking deep breaths. I think just taking taking breaths um whenever I feel myself, you know, a little maybe a little in the uh ahead of the moment, maybe. Um but yeah, just just being relaxed has kind of just been the the huge thing for me. And uh, you know, obviously working with with Hunter has been has been great too. It is helping really help me, you know, build off of off of last year and and just continue to work on those those things that I need to work on.

SPEAKER_00 12:00

Going back to the defensive versatility element of it, obviously with first base last year, you hadn't played it previously, you picked it up in about a week, and same thing with left field here, as you hadn't played it previously professionally, and you picked it up in a couple days. And just throughout this entire process of you know jumping all around the diamond, have you maybe even surprised yourself at all in just your ability to you know play all these positions and you know kind of as smoothly as you have been able to?

SPEAKER_01 12:26

Yeah, a little bit. I think I think going out to to left field it was kind of a it was at first it was a little bit of a a little nerve-wracking just because I haven't been out there and like the first time I got thrown out there, I was in um grew in Arizona, I think it was. So it was a little it was a little you know scary, but good thing we were in a dome to to be in there, so there was no crazy oracle wind. Um but yeah, it's it's it's been fun. I've been I've really been enjoying it and um I like the challenge of of having to to learn something new. I think it just I think it I think it's just a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

So you've knocked out pretty much every position on the diamond. You got center, you got right, you got catcher. Are you are you you you vying with Tony to play those positions at any point, just knock them all out?

SPEAKER_01 13:14

I don't I don't know about catcher, but uh center field and right field. I've I I feel like I could I could go out and get it out there.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

Casey, last one I want to leave you with is we're gonna head back down to San Diego in roughly a month or so, and you probably know as much as anybody on this team about you know the best places to to hit up in San Diego. If you had to give us your three spots to eat at in San Diego, what are they?

SPEAKER_01 13:39

Alright, so my number one is it's always been Lolita's. Um, I love that spot. I always get the California burrito extra sour cream, it's my thing. Uh tacos Legordo is another one. That's those are those are like my two, like those are like my my spots. Like I'll every time I go home, I always either have to get one or the other. Doesn't matter. It doesn't matter which one it is. Gosh, and three three's a tough one, but I would probably say I'd probably say Hodad's. Hodad's is another one that I if I'm feeling a good burger, I'll go down to Hodad's and get a get a nice burger from there.

SPEAKER_00 14:20

I know that Tagos El Gordo has kind of gotten some uh tourist trap allegations. How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

What what do you mean? What's tour? What do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_00 14:28

They're saying like, oh, like this is where the tourists go. This isn't the real place to go. How do you uh someone that's from there? How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 14:36

No, that's that's that's a bunch of crap. That place is that place is bomb. It's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00 14:41

Well, there you go. You heard it from the man yourself. Casey, thank you for coming on, and we'll see you in a couple hours. Yeah, sounds good. Thank you.