Nolan Arenado

I mean you talk about a golf junkie. Um, this guy lives breeze, eat, sleeps golf and we had a great day and and talked about get him on the podcast and listen. I always like talking to other athletes and and hearing about how they play their sport, Um, what it takes to play their sport, because obviously that's kind of the world that I live in in golf. So UM to get a chance to talk uh to Nolan and to hear him talk not only about baseball, but um about his passion for playing golf. UM, I

think it's always cool. And you know, sports, whether it's golf, whether it's baseball, whatever sport it is, anytime you can talk to an athlete and kind of get their process. I think it crosses over into how athletes approach their sports UM. And I think you can learn a lot from listening to other athletes talk about not only golf, but the way they look at their sport. And Uh, I think you guys will get a lot out of this interview. Before we get to that, I wanted to

talk about our partner for wellness. Listen, you guys hear me talk about I'm a huge fan of the coffee UM on the road this week and have their energy bites with me as well, which UM on the golf course. When I'm at a tour event, I really don't have a lot of time to eat UM kind of bouncing around between multiple players. So these new energy bites UM, a little bit of coffee and M gives me a little bit of kind of a kick, especially kind of that late in the afternoon, you know, to three o'clock, UM,

breakfast starting to wear off. So UM, go check them out, Go check out the coffee, the good stuff. UM. It's part of my daily routine when I'm home, and I think everybody will really really like it. All right, let's get to the interview with Nolan. Alright, my guest today Nolan Arnado. I hope I've pronounced that correctly six times, our seven time All Star, nine time Golden Glove, one of the best third basement in the game, and a huge, huge golfer. We met, full disclosure, we met at the grove.

Um played some golf with DJ UM, So definitely gonna talk to you for your love of golf. But um, I'm always fascinated Nolan to get an opportunity to talk to players from other sports. Um. I think baseball and golf have a lot of similarities in the way they're kind of specific disciplines, individual kind of positions. Um. Do you see a correlation between the sports that you play baseball and obviously the sports you'd like to play in

the off season and for fun golf? Yeah, you know, I think both of them take years off your life because they're so tough. Huh. But that's how I feel like,

But no, I'm just taking I'm just joking. But you know, I think, Um, there is a lot of big correlation to swing the path like, so they're both really tough mentally tough, um, and something that you know, I admire golfers for you know, being able to move on from shots, right, you gotta be able to move on from my bats, be able to move on from you know, the games and stuff like that. So that's something that I really noticed, um, and I just have a whole lot of respect for them.

So obviously, question what's harder hitting a ninety mile an hour fastball or standing up on a tight hole where you've got water, you've got out of bounds and you've got to make a good, good drivers swing. What's harder? Um? Wow, baseball is the hardest thing to do. Man. For me, so I think that's harder. But I can't hit a drive in the fairway, so, um, so that's always tough

for me. Um. But uh, they're both extremely tough. I mean, I mean I get nervous on the drive, on the drive when there's people watching or if I do like a little pro am, but I get nervous when there's money on the line, when you're playing a little golf with your boys. Um, probably a little bit more nervous when than my hitting, because at least hitting I feel like I'm prepared for it. Golf, I think I'm more prepared for it than I really am so growing up

in Newport Beach, California. I mean, to come out of a huge Southern California rich baseball history. You've got amazing teams, and you know, you grew up a Dodger fan. You've got the padres and stuff. But I always think that when you look at kids that come out of big, urban, dense populated areas from a sports standpoint, to to get to the top of that wrong in in Los Angeles

and Southern California. To make it from that big of an area too, the Major League, I mean, that's gotta be really, really difficult because there's so many kids playing competitive baseball. You know, it's just like golf, you know. I think, you know, the you know, the best players, they end up they're doing something different, you know. And I'm not saying I did something different when I grew up, UM, but I think I gradually just got better every year.

And I think that was what was really important for me, you know. You know, I think that, like you said, there's a lot of great players from Orange County, UM, but I think the best thing I ever did when I was a young player was playing with guys older than me. Right, you always want to play with people better than you or because I feel like they pushed you to another level. You know, I always had the

opportunity to do that. Um, I think I you know, I read something where I think it was Rory was always playing with you know, guys that are little older than him, better than him, and that made him better. Um. I think that's a huge thing. And that's kind of what I did in baseball, you know, I you know it was. It was humbling, you know what I mean. I got I got beat up while I was own it. But it taught me a lot about the game and taught me that I had to I had to keep

growing and finding ways to get better. So when did you have that? I'm always interested when I talked to athletes from other sports. When did you have that kind of moment where you thought, Okay, I think I have a legit chance to try and do this as a profession. Because I mean, obviously, as a golf instructor, I get so many young players, um, guys, girls that come in with their parents and say, listen, I want you to

take a look at my Sonnies fourteen fifteen sixteen. He wants to try and make a career, wants to try and play on the PGA Tour, wants to try and be a professional golfer, and and so I think everybody kind of thinks that they want to do that. When did you have that moment to where you're like, Okay, this is this is legit have has a chance to happen. Now, I think, you know, probably my senior year high school.

You know, I I was doing these showcases and playing with a lot of great players that were well known around you know, the nation. You know, you play showcases with players that you know, you see online that are that, hey, this guy is supposed to get drafted high, or this guy is supposed to getdrafted high. And uh, you know what I realized when I was playing with those guys that you know, in my heart, you know, at the time, they were probably a little more advanced than me, but

I didn't think that that much better than me. So I always felt like, Okay, well, if these guys are going to be the elite guys or the first rounders and all that, and I feel like I could play just as good as them. If not, I'm right there. I don't see why I can't be that guy. Also and you know, obviously I've had a good senior season and I played well when I played good in showcases, and there was rumors with me getting drafted, and you know, I wanted to play pro ball at high school. I

didn't really want to go to college. I was willing, and obviously we used that as leverage rights so you can get a better deal on all those things. But you know, I wanted to go play pro ball. That was what I wanted to do. Um. But I that's when I first noticed that, like, okay, I could play with these guys. And uh, you know, it's a self sense of confidence that I felt like, Okay, these guys are the ones that get drafted high I think I

could do it. I always look at kids when I look at them, Nolan, and kind of you know, you get the parents do a lot of the talking. Um. You know, you ask kids questions. You know, high school can say, tell me about your game that mom, the dad they answer, And I always said you to the kid, no, no, I don't want to hear your dad's answer. I want to hear your answer. Um. Growing up, were you a were you self motivated? Were you someone that wanted to

go and practice and play. Or were you the kid that the parents were really involved and they said, listen, you've got to do this, You've got to practice, you've got to do that. What kind of kid were you and what were what were the things growing up that motivated you as an athlete to continue? Like said, because I always say to players, listen, the most important thing if you're trying to play at any level in golf or in sports is just to get better every year

if it's one, two, three percent. But as you know, you can't have a year where you get five percent worse because other people are going to pass you. So when you were younger, were you self motivated? Did the motivation come did you have mentors? Where did that come from that helped you get to the level that you're

at now? Yeah, you know, I think, you know, I was very fortunate that my parents loved the game and they you know, I was very fortunate that they would you know, my dad would always be willing to go throw and hit me ground balls and and work. But he never, he never you know, got on me about working. I always loved working on the game, you know. I always loved taking ground balls, I love hitting I love,

you know, all those things. Obviously, you need someone to help you out also, so I had teammates and buddies that was willing to do it. My brothers. I was fortunate to have two brothers that were always down to go play and work. Um, the thing I needed a good pushing for. I needed a good push was like in the weight room, making sure I'm getting my body ready. You know, always needed a trainer to watch me and

push me. You know, sometimes I would get little lack of daisy bom there because I just want to go hit and take ground balls. But there's more than just hitting and taking ground balls. You gotta make sure your body is ready to go. I know, when you're young, you can get away with it, but you know I still want to You still gotta get stronger. When you're younger, you have a chance to get a lot stronger and you know, quick her or what more explosive. But I

love working on the game. I love hitting off the t you know, I think, you know, I think what I've noticed when I watched you know, documentaries on Michael Jordan's or Tiger Woods or Derek Jeter. You know, these guys love the game and they love working on it. They never saw it as work, you know what I mean. So I think that's something that I feel like I always wanted to be like that, just like I love working on it. And that's kind of what how I

how I took it. Were there I know, I know in golf you talked to players you know that are playing now on on the PJ Tour or European Tour wherever they're playing, and I always asked them, listen, who were the Were there any studs that you played with as a junior that you thought, there's no way this kid can't make it? And every single one of the players that I know we got there was this kid. He was unbelievable, he was this, he was that in the other and he and he didn't make it. And

that's the other thing. NO want to see so many junior golfers, athletes that are and I'm sure you've seen this, they're better when they're fifth, teen, sixteen than they are when they're eighteen, nineteen and twenty. Is there anything you know, You've been around the sport, you know, professional sports for so long, is there anything that you see that you

think separates it? Because I see so many kids that you know, they're good junior golfers, they go to Division one college and then they just they just get whatever it is. They get sidetracked. Maybe they don't want to work that hard. Maybe the motivation didn't come from them and it came from other people. Um. Does that happen? Have you seen that happen in baseball as well? Absolutely? I think I think that. You know, I remember when

I was younger. You know, guys would be a little bit taller and me stronger, um, and it was intimidating. You're like, man, this guy's already strong, he's already throwing way harder than I am. But you know, I think putting in the work, you have to continue to put in the work. Um, and the love the game, you know. I think sometimes can people get complacent, they get distracted with other things. But if you really love the game, you'll find a way. I mean I wouldn't, you know.

That's the thing. Sometimes it could tear people down, and you see guys that are way better than you at a young age, but there's so much more time. You know, people don't understand that, Hey, there's a lot of time left. Like keep pushing, don't worry about it right now, like you know, And I think, like you said, you know,

that's a huge thing. You know. I think guys just get caught up in not wanting to put in the work and uh and the guys that are younger maybe not as fast or as good at the time, they end up catching up, you know what I mean. Yeah, I mean I think that if you are one of those kids or juniors when you're playing, that you don't maybe have some of the the naturally gifted things like size.

I mean, there are just some kids when you're younger that you're playing, you're just like, this guy's already like three or four ft. I mean, he's already he's already much taller than I am. He's bigger than I am, and stuff like that. Um, when I watched the Little League World Series, there's always that one kid on the team that's like a giant. You've got all these young kids, they all look like, you know, eleven, twelve year old, and then you've got the kid that's twelve and you're

like that kids like nineteen. There's no way that kid is size, right. Um, So when you were working as a kid, how much of your time was devoted to sports. How much of your time was devoted to going to school? Because I think that's another thing, know, that's so hard for young athletes, regardless of the sport. They're trying to figure out this balance of they have to go to school, they have to practice. And one of the things that I see that so many, you know, junior golfers I

work with, they have no life. They either are playing, practicing, or they're going to school. And I'm always telling the juniors that I work with golf wise, Hey, listen, I know it's gonna sound crazy, and I say this to the parents as well. Your kid needs an off day, he needs one month, one weekend a month where he

just doesn't do anything. Did you find that as well, that it's easy to get just so burned out that when you're growing up, it just it seems like a job and you get to nineteen, like, listen, I just don't want to do this. Yeah, I think that's a huge problem. You know, I know, I know I've heard of kids, young kids getting like Tommy John surgery already. You know. The one thing I was always like, which is insane to me, And you know, I was fortunate my dad never let me throw a curveball or a slider.

He always said, like, if you throw a curveball slider, you're gonna be taken out of the game. So I always had to throw fastballs or changeups, and I would get shelled, you know, because those two pitches can't get people out really, you know, and literally because they're you know, the differentition on the moss pri hour isn't that much. I don't know what I'm doing, you know, you're throwing, and I would get upset because I'm like, I gotta throw something else, you know. But I would would let

me because he's trying to protect me. But you know, I think obviously school is really important. You know, you gotta take care of your school. You know. My parents always said like, hey, make sure you take care of school and then you could practice and you know, do your stuff. But if you're not doing good in school, we're not gonna let you go play. So that was kind of like, all right, well, I got I better do good in school or because I'm not able to

play baseball. Um but I see a lot of that too, kids getting burned out. You know. I was always fortunate because my dad always before school started, UM, August was the month where I got off. I would play all the way until you know, August, and once August was there, I would August would be off like go summer, go to the beach with your friends, get away, you know how,

enjoy your time away. And then when school started in September, UM, then it was like all right, back to work and get back to school and get on that routine again. But um, August was my month off, and I was very fortunate for that because I would play all the way until August, and I would be like, I'm over it, you know what I mean, Like I don't want to

you know, I need to take a little break. So August was my month off, and it was awesome because when you take time off, you realize how much you love the game, because you're like, man, I kind of miss playing. I want to get back out there, you know what I mean. And if you don't feel that way, you don't feel like you want to get back out there,

then I don't know if that's a good sign. And I also think that for athletes, you need to have that that compartmentalized thing to where you say, okay, the season is now for the off season. Now I'm gonna work my ass off. This is my work. I'm gonna play the season out, and then I know that I'm going to get a break so I can recharge and then come back. Because I've heard so many golfers say, you know, listen, I remember one of the guys that

was the best of that. Back in the day when I used to work with Brooks kept Brooks would always around after a major, either after the the Masters of the U S Open, he would plan like three weeks where you say, listen, I'm gonna take three weeks or a month off, and he would be like, I'm so looking forward to that month off. I'm gonna really bust my ass for the next two three weeks, get through this two as well as I can, and then really

get that break. And he always tended to play really well when he came back from a pretty extensive break because he came back refueled and kind of re energized, and like you said, he was like, man, I really missed playing. I missed practicing and playing. Yeah for sure. I mean, um, even after the season when I'm done playing baseball, even now, you know, I always take time off go golf serve, go to the beach whatever, take away time from the weight room, gym and all that.

But then they gets to a point where you're like, allright, I missed it, I missed the work. I want to get back in there. And I think that's usually when I find myself in my better spot. You know, there's times where I end this season not as good as I wanted, or I was kind of frustrated with the way I went, so I like, you know, I took a like very little time, less time than when I usually played well, and then I would work work, working it almost kind of like I didn't really love it,

you know. I was like kind of getting burned, like burned out working so much, you know what I mean. And then I go in the season like I'm kind of tired, like, you know, not tired, but like I'm like, man, I'm not like fully like fresh and locked in like I should be. So I think it's really important to take time a waste so you could get that edge again of like all right, it's time to get after it,

you know what I mean. So your stand out in southern California, um, the Colorado Rockies, UM, when you got that kind of call. You you knew that you were going to get into a Major League Baseball teams system. What was that like and what we're What was the thought on the day that had happened for you? Is it just you knew what was going to happen? Was it relief? Was it excite? Meant? What was it? Well? It was it was a little bit of relief, but it was excitement, you know, like the journey is going

to begin. Um. I was just so stoked, you know, you know, you put all that work in and to finally get that opportunity, it's it's extremely tough and uh it was such a big deal. Um but uh, you know I uh and scared to right, You're a little scared, like, oh man, it's about now, it's about to go down, Like now I gotta do something. Now, I really gotta do it, you know what I mean. So, um, So

it was a lot of fun. But you know, I whenever I get nervous or scared, I always got back to my work, right, the work I put in, So that always helped. So let's take a short break and we will be back right after this. All right, let's get back to the interview. How long did you play in the minor leagues before you Yeah, I mean you major league major league debut April. So from playing you know all in high school too, when you started and got to the major leagues. What was that time period?

How long did you stay in the minors. I was in the minor leagues from I got drafted in two thousand nine. I went to rookie ball and then I got called up in uh two weeks in Triple A. So you know, I went to every level rookie ball, low, A, high, double, at Triple A. UM, so about four years, you know what I mean. And that's usually what it is for high school guys, maybe longer. UM. I mean everyone's different, right, everyone. It just matters who developed quicker, who doesn't, you know.

And but you know, during those times and the miners, you know, there's times I played really well and I had a lot of there was times I got really you know, beat up, you know, mentally physically, you know, just really tough. You know. Double A was the biggest tester for me, right because they always say the best

players are in double A, like that's the closest thing. Yeah, they always say double as the closest thing as far as like big league talent like this you could tell and double a like certain guys are gonna be dudes. You know you're like, all this guy's gonna you could tell like he's he's on his way. Um. And you know that was the first time my face pictures like consistently, you know, almost in I was like, Wow, this is the next level. Like if this is what the big

leagues like I got, I got a long ways to go. UM. So I think that's what you learn. And but you know, I'm very thankful for those times. You know, those things pushed me, they made me better. They were tough in the moment, but they got me to the level where I'm at today. One of the things Nolan, I always say to the golfers that I'm lucky enough to work

with the specially of the juniors. I always say, listen, in order to make it to the next level, whatever the next level is, you want to go from high school and play college golf. You want to go play college golf and try and play professional and then you want to hopefully one day play on a tour somewhere. You have to have a quantifiable visible strength and I think a lot of golfers, and I think a lot of athletes thinks, you know, I'm just gonna try and

get good at everything. And like you said, you were a great hitter, but you were an unbelievable field or great third basement and stuff. Does that strength that you have he's that. Do you think that's natural or do you think that's something you know, your defensive skills in the field as a third basement. Do you think that's just something that through hard work, dedication, you just learned that and that kind of became your calling card. Absolutely,

I think that. I think it was hard work. You know. I when I got drafted, a lot of teams were thinking about draft me as a catcher, um because I didn't move well. Um. And some teams were thinking about moving me back there because I showcase when I was in high school. I tried to showcase that I could catch and play there because I was just trying to get my draft status up and try to get drafted higher,

you know, doing everything I can to get drafted higher. Um. But deep down, I didn't want to play catcher because that's a really hard position and I just didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do it. I wasn't ready for that and UM, but I had to really work to get become a better third basement. I

had a lot of coaching. I went to There's this thing called Instructs that after the season into my leagues, you go there for like three weeks to get like it's like almost like a mini spring training before pen training, to get like extra work in. I went to every single one while I was in the minors, basically UM to like get extra work in UM and UH. I think that's what set me different. And I always had good hands. I always had a good arm, but my

feet were terrible. I was a little slow, little overweight, like all those little things. I had to really take serious in the off season. And because they would, they would tell you like, hey, man, if you don't clean this up, we've got to find another spot. So it was kind of a you know, a little wake up call. But it was something that helped change me because I was like, man, I'll take this, you know, I'll take

this challenge, and I feel good about it. I read that when you were in the minor leagues, one of the things that that helped change you and transform you and get you The next level was your footwork, working on you know, stuff that probably you know the same thing that I always say to two golfers and you know, short games stuff, all the stuff that's in glamorous, you know, for you as the third base and working on probably stuff that feels like you're learning how to walk again.

But it is so vital to play the position that you play. Yeah, for sure, absolutely, I U yeah, man, I mean I would go. We would have early groundballs at like one o'clock every day in the minors, the games at seven, you know what I mean, Like I would have to be there early to work on it, work on my footwork. The off season was strictly like strength training and agility work. Um, I had. I had a fine ways to get better. There's no doubt. I couldn't just continue to do what I was doing because

that wasn't gonna work. I had to like change the whole thing. And uh, you know, I think a lot of them were surprised by that, but it made me a better player. And you know, I was fortunate. You know, I had, like Troy to Lewitsky, who was the best shorts up in the game at the time, and he was on the rockies and he would tell me like or he would say, you got to take pride to defense.

You gotta get quicker, like you know you're not you're not fast enough for this league, you know what I mean basically, And you know I would take you know. It didn't hurt my feelings as I was like, you know what, he's right, because like when I saw him, I was like, I'm nowhere near that, so I better

start getting my work in. When you say you weren't a great hitter, and I'm always fascinated because I think as you as you said earlier, the golf swing and the baseball swing have a lot of similarities in that you're starting from a static position. Okay, obviously baseball you're reacting to where the pictures throwing it or the way

you think they're throwing it. But there is I don't think people realize there is a tremendous amount of technique that goes into hitting, and in the same way that there is a tremendous amount of technique that goes into swinging a golf club. How did you get better as a hitter and what were the things that when you started that you feel like we're keeping you back from

being a better hitter that you eventually became. When I got called up my rookie year, I was getting really beat up with the inside pitch, like they were jamming me. I wasn't you know, I wasn't able to pull the ball. I wasn't able to show them that you can't go in there anymore. You can't you can't keep jamming me. You can't keep you know, breaking my bat whatever, you know.

And so that offseason I went home and I was like, Okay, I need to learn to pull the ball better, Like I need able to get the ball in the air. And I play up as a shi where they expect me, expect me to drive in runs, hit home runs, and I need to start doing a better job of that.

And what I learned was that, you know, I I just got to the off season and I worked on staying back they're able to pull the ball in the air, and uh, you know, working counts having better at bats, you know what I mean, Because when you're young player, you just go to swing. You know. I was chasing hits, you know, I said, And whenever you're chasing hits, that's

the worst thing you can do. The best thing you can do is make sure the process is right and just focus on hating the ball hard and stuff like that. But I was chasing hits, and when you chase hits, it usually doesn't happen. I'm guessing I don't know what the resemblance for golf would be, but you know, you know, it's like if you're like, I better get a birdie here and you don't, it's like depressing, Like I don't know,

that's like hitting it. I don't get hit here. I'm you know, that's a bad way to go up to the plate. You know. I gotta go up to the plate with a plan, and I had to learn that. But I think once I showed that I could pull the ball in the air, they kind of change everything for me. So when they next year when they were throwing me inside, I was able to pull the ball, and then they're like, okay, we can't go there or more. Now we have to expose something else. It's just a constant,

it's a constantly of adjustments. Man. I mean, once I showed that I could pull the ball, and then they go away and then I'm like, I show that hit the ball the other way. It's just you're constantly adjusting. But I had to really changed like my swing, my approach,

my mental everything. So um. Obviously with the Rockies, you guys had hitting coaches, very similar to the role that I have with tour players, where we're like, we're looking at the swing, we're looking at the stroke, and they can come in and say, hey, listen, I mean, do you guys do hitters? I mean, do you guys use videos of yourself when you're looking at you know, you're hitting, You watch a lot of you know, footage. What are you looking at to try and and what is the process,

like you said, to make yourself a better hitter. It's the same process that someone's trying to become a better ball striker and golf. So the processes. You have a group of people on your team at the Rockies. Now you're with St. Louis the Cardinals, you guys have hitting coaches and they look at it and say, Okay, I think you could do this, I think you could do that. Yeah.

I mean we've come a long way. I mean when I first got hold Up, it was like strictly video, you know, from the video from the side, watching the mechanics make sure everything's dropping in the right way, all those little things. But now we have like track man, um hit tracks and all those little things. I know golf uses the same thing. But that's been a big help for me. You know, when I was younger, and when you're younger, you could just hit, hit, hit, you know,

soon or later. I feel like I was gonna find it for feel. But as I've gotten older, you know, my body moves differently and I've got to like really focus on the video and see where I'm at. Um. Track Man's helped me out a lot the last few years because I've been I've been really seeing from the side, like making sure my bat barrels up, making sure I'm getting in my legs, make sure I'm dropping in the right way, um. Because and baseball, you know, you want

to drop in the zone. You want to be in the zone a long time, and that was like a big key for me, and uh, years of the past, like I wasn't doing that, um and I was. That's a big focus of mine. But I think that's been huge. The track Man has been enormous because you know, I know, I remember when I was when we went to the Girl that one day DJ was working you know, ball speed right like or or swing maybe swing speed, and

I really paid it. I was like, man, that's crazy, because that's something I've been really focused on this offseason. Swinging faster, because it's the faster you swing, hit the ball, hit the ball harder, more fee, whether the ball goes all those little things. And last year I didn't hit

the ball as hard as I did this year. And then you if you see the numbers there, you know I've been a way better ball player this year the player last year, because I believe swinging faster, hand the ball harder, more miles per hour, you know, the chances of hits when you're hitting the ball harder or drastic. So I just as I've gotten older and that you know, you're trying not to get two paralyzed with analytics and

stuff like that. But there's definitely a lot of things that have shown me a lot we're we're in this as you mentioned, I mean, golf is in the same age that you're in now. I think, um analytics, data information, it plays such a huge part of professional sports. The club that I'm out here in Florida, the Floridian, is owned by Jim Crane. I go to a lot of games with Jim. He takes me down, you know, when we go to the Astros games, he takes me, you know,

into where the dug. But I was amazing. He took me back into this room where there's just computers and I said, what does this He goes, this is kind of the film room. It's just off of where you know, the locker room is just so if a new picture comes in, the guys can go in and look at

We've got video and data and all of that. How do you, as a player, Nolan, find that balance between how much information you're taking in versus you know, being able to still have what is kind of your instincts and your your kind of touches and fields based off of Because I remember Jim told me a great story once. Um, the year they won the World Series. Um, the manager a j You know, Jim played competitive baseball. You know, I think he was gonna an All American at Southern

Missouri and he played baseball. And he said to a j Listen, we're going to spend more money on analytics and anybody in the league. But if you, as the baseball guy, believe that this is the right decision to make from just a pure instinct baseball and the data tells you to do something else. Jim said, I will never beat you up if you followed your baseball heart versus your information analytics care because the end of the day,

baseball is what we're playing. We're not playing analytics. Yeah. Yeah, I mean that's a great question. I mean, that's that's so important because I think it's one of you gotta know who you are, you know what you do. You know, if you if you're trying to be somebody else because the analysts tell you that you need to be the certain guy that that's usually when it doesn't turn out very good. Know who you are it would be the main one. But I think it could paralyze you when

you know. I think sometimes like we've gotten analytics down so much that we know percentages of pitches being thrown, you know what I mean, like the picture we're facing, Like, hey, the percentage of this and discount or this and that. That's all great and dandy, but that's sometimes like just because he does it to him, doesn't mean he's gonna do it to you either, right, I mean, I mean,

I remember I faced the picture this year. I won't I don't want to say his name, but you know he threw change ups two person ended that he's going to change up two percent of the time. This year, he's been strictly fastball, slider, curveball. I go up there, he gets me out on a changeup, you know what I mean. And I went up there thinking, no, I'm not eve gonna look for the changeup. It's two percent at a time, of course, right, but but he threw it to me and he got me out. Next to bat,

he threw it again. He got me out. So like you're like, man, like, I don't want to you know, it all depends on who you are. But it's just crazy, like, man, the numbers like they say they won't do it. And I'm not blaming the numbers, because you've gotta take your chances. Like it was pretty drastic, the slider, curveball, fastball, Like you gotta realize that that's what he does. But it's just so funny, how like it might not turn out

the way you want. And I think I think it paralyzes you when you're so focused on what the numbers say, you know, how hard or how the numbers say. You know, I think at the end of the day, you do have to have to feel you just gotta play the game as hard as you can and know who you are. But I've been really I've changed the way I've looked at things the last few years because of how advanced the games are and how advanced these pictures are. And uh,

I've learned from gold Schmidt, Paul Goldschman. He has really helped me a lot with like him and like the percentages are, how really high on this? So we have to focus on this, and I've been doing it. Um. But you know, sometimes they approach guys differently. But I've really been learned a lot this year with all the numbers and analytics and all that, and you know, the videos on the pictures and all that. When he throws

in certain towns, it's been it's been really interesting. Something I never really used to rely on, but with how good these guys are nowadays, I've been really focused on it. When we when we play golf that day, Um, at the grove, you're watching DJ and you know, DJ is one of you know, watching a driver is one of the coolest things that he just stands there and hammers driver and he hit one drive and you just kind of looked at me and laughed and went, man, that's

so cool. When you hit a home run, right when you're standing up on the plate and you hit rue and you catch it, you know, what does that feel? I mean, do you feel anything or does it feel like it doesn't even touch the bat and it's just gone. Yeah. Well, first off, any homer is the best feeling in the world. That's what That's what I think is. Um, it's the best only in the world. Um, there's nothing like it. But yeah, it's almost like you didn't really you know,

you hit the sweet spot. You just feel like it doesn't feel like really anything. It doesn't feel like you're getting you know, I don't explain it, but yeah, you're squaring it up and you can just see the way the ball trajects like trajects in the air that it's just it's gonna go out good back spin. Um, there's no better feeling, you know, hitting a home run. Um, I've always said that, and uh um, but you know it's hard to back spend the baseball, that's for sure.

But when you do it, man, I'm saying, there's nothing like it, and doing it in big moments of school runs and win games. I mean, like I said, there's no better feeling in the world. I mean, you've had almost three hundred home runs in the Major League, so you're pretty good at doing it. Um, we could talk about baseball all day. Golf, I know, it's something that's you know, you're you're really passionate about. It's a big part of your life. Um, how did you get into

golf and and why did you get into golf? Yeah, when I was in a my dad always played golf when I was younger, and I always would go mess around with him, go play, and uh, you know, in double A, I got my first set of clubs because a lot of my boys got a lot of I've always got clubs, and uh so I was like, oh, I'm gonna take it serious. You know, I'm gonna buy my set clubs. I'm gonna get you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna go play a lot. I wasn't very good for a while, but I love the game of golf,

and then I slowly just got better. Every year every offseason, I would just practice practice. Then I finally joined the country club. You know, like as I because when I thought I was actually good enough to join a country club, that's when I joined the country club. Um, and then you know I could be able to go practice, go play. Um. But I love the game of golf just for the

sake of like it's such a competitive sport. Um. You know, when baseball season is over, you know, I mean you know you you still need that drive, that competitiveness, you know, like you almost like it's like addicting in a sense, like you gotta go compete. Like I can't just go nof season just like I'm not gonna go do nothing, Like I need to compete somehow, somehow, a way, you know. And golf is that outlet for me. And uh, I love doing it with my my all my brothers and

my cousins. We all play. Hey, so it's a pretty cool experience. What is the current handicap right now? I got down to a three point to this offseason. Yeah, I got down hit it really good. Yeah. I didn't play good at the Grow, but I was nervous playing with Dustin and Ricky and those guys there. I was nervous. And I'm not gonna Florida Golf with the wind. I usually don't. I'm not very good. I'm not that good to play through that stuff. Um, but you know, I

got down pretty good this offseason. I've been playing a lot. I would do lessons. You know, I was really focused on my putting. I did a putting lesson, um, because I don't like missing putts, and uh, but I love it. Yeah. I got down to a three one this offseason, and uh, probably right now I'm like at four. But you know, we'll see where I'm at. Do you remember the first time you broke part I've only done it. I broke.

I broke part one Emerald Dunes in Florida, and I played really well, and uh, I shot one under and I was I was on fire. I was, oh man, it was awesome. But the last hole I needed to I needed a part. And because there's a part five before the part four, I went in the bunker and I went back in the bunker. After a couple of swings, I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm about to blow this round right now. I was nervous. I was like, no ways,

this about to happen. And then I got out of there with a bogey and then I was like, okay, I'm one under. I gotta be able to last whole. And I was a little bit off the green. I put it within, gimmea range, and I made it and it was I was so nervous though, but it was awesome. I mean it's amazing. You know, you you've played baseball, you you've hit home runs in front of fifty six people. You know, that type of noiance and stuff. I'm always

fascinated that that non golfers better athletes. I mean, you're feeling the pressure to break par for the first time. What was the feeling like you did you drive home and were you just like, man, I've actually done it. Yeah. I mean I was so excit. I called my dad right away. I was like freaking out, you know, I was so pumped up. I called my dad, My dad, do you want you want to believe I shot one under today? You know? And he was all fired up

for me. I told all my boys, but I call my dad like when I got called up to the big leagues, basically like, hey, I'm getting called up, Like I shot one under and I called him like, dude, I shot one under today and it was pretty awesome. And the guys I played with were great. Um, but uh, the course is fun too. But yeah, man, I was. I was. That made my whole weekend that weekend. I don't think anything made me upset after that. Let's take a quick break and we are back. You mentioned you

you you played with d j um rickey. Um. When you look at those guys and obviously you're you're coming to it from you know, sport that you know you're one of the best in the game, and when when you look at them, what stands out to you that you look at when you watch any of the player I'm gonna know you've played with, you probably played in pro ams before and stuff like that, But when you watch professional golfers as a professional athlete, what is what

stands out to you that you go, wow, that's that's really really cool. Yeah. Well, first, just what I was amazed with Dustin. You know, I remember that one part five with the wind blowing in. He played like a little cut and then you get a three wood through the wind right on the green for eagle, Like I was just more like, I mean, I'm not I don't

think I've ever seen anything. I've never seen anything like that as far as how big, how long that hole was playing, and how he knew like I'm gonna play cut over here with the three wood, it's gonna come right back on the green. And the ball moved like it was hit so far and then it moved a lot and it was right on the green. And I just amazed. You know. It's just like I know people are amazed with as we're playing baseball, but just being

able to play. Like what I know is with Dustin when he was doing he was aiming at like the smallest spots where to hit the ball. I know, the first hole, he would like, go right to the bunker because that's a good look into the hole, and like I'm just trying to get in the fairway. He's like no, and he's aiming at the smallest area where I can get it where the best. And that's I guess that's the difference, right, is that they they do they're trying to do the little things and get in the best spot.

I'm just trying to make sure I have a decent look, you know. And I was just amazed by those little things, you know, and the confidence, the chipping, the drives were amazing that you can play a cut in a draw. Um, you know, I play with Fred Couples one time, and I've got to know Fred a little bit and he's a friend. And uh, he was amazing too. You know how smooth and easy he was. He was making cuts from nice and from huge, but his swing was unbelievable.

I'm like, man, this is this is insane. I mean, how how easy he's making this look. But you know what I love too is that you know, I know they're having fun, but you know, you could tell it's just like the US baseball players. You don't like taking a bad swing. Nobody's happening when it doesn't feel right, you know what I mean. You're like, no, that's not what I'm looking for. You know, it's there's there's similarities there.

You know, if I was hitting batting practice and I took a bad swing, I know it's only one swing, but I'm still like, I don't like that, you know what I mean. And that's what with them too. They're the same way. It's pretty cool. Did you say, um, no, one all the strengths of your game right now from golf standpoint, and where do you feel like you can make some improvements and and and help get you, you know,

the ideal world. I mean, I'm guessing the goal for you would be to be a scratch golfer, right, get down to scratch. So yeah, that's you know, you're a three. I mean the amount of people that are three handicaps that play golf, I mean they're not. You think there's a lot of them, They're there's really not. So what do you think, um, what are the strengths? What do you say, Okay, I know I have a lot of confidence in this, and what are the areas for your game?

Did you feel like, okay, I could get better at this? I think driving obviously, driving accuracy. You know, I want to learn to play a draw off the drive. I used to play a cut, you know, the baseball swing. We stay inside, and so I kind of just carry that over to golf and it works all right. But I would love to play a draw. Um, and all the players draw, All the hockey players draw, and all

the baseball players really hit the cut. All the hockey players all draw, like I've I've yet to see one hockey player that doesn't draw it because obviously they're staying. They have to have their lower body be very very stationary, and then it's a lot of arm movement and that the swing comes more from around the body as a hockey player. So all of the hockey players fight the hook. And I mean it's a generalization, but over the years, all the hockey players I've ever seen, they all fight

the hulk, and all the baseball players fight the slice. Yes, exactly. Um, that's crazy golf my drives putting obviously, and then shipping. You know, I this is this is the first offseason I learned to like chip and be able to like stop it on the green. Um. Obviously I bladed a lot of those, but the times I did it right, it was it was really key for me. Um. But those are the big things, the driving, the chip, the short game. And then I feel like my irons are

pretty good. You know, I feel like I keep it in the fairway. I could, you know, I could hit the greens pretty good. But I mean, at the end of the day, you know, it's it's like anything you feel like the game is not good enough. I feel like I gotta get it all better. But if I could keep my drives in in in the fairway and give myself a good look, I feel like I could score, you know what I mean. I feel like whenever I have my best rounds, it's usually when i'm driving all

the best. You mentioned hitting to where you said listen. You know, sometimes if you're trying to get hits, you're not going to get hits right. And I think one of the similarities between hitting and and golf is, you know, we always say the players, listen, if you can just get the bull and play off the team, regardless of how far that is, right, but get the ball in

playoff the team hit more fairways. Obviously your confidence goes up in the feel, but the game becomes so much easier the more that you can keep the ball and play. And I think everybody I always say the players listening to if you come to me and say listen, i'm hitting, you know, tend to twelve fairways around. I just don't hit it far enough. That's a different conversation. So the idea being that if you can get the ball and play, don't necessarily try and and and go for this. Just say, listen,

let me get this in play. And I've got an iron in my hand from the short grass from pretty much normally probably a fairly flatish lie. It makes the game and scoring a hell of a lot easier than when you're trying to chip out and you're trying to go through the trees and all of that. For sure. Absolutely, I've been through a plenty of trees, that's for sure,

so I know about that. But yeah, I mean, like I said, my best rounds I've ever had in my life or usually when I'm in the fairway, have a good look at the green and uh, like I said, doesn't happen a lot, but when it does, that's usually when I play my best. Favorite golf courses that you've got the player there any golf courses that you've got to play there like that? That's unbelievable. What are some courses that are on your bucket list that you would

like to play? Uh? Best course I ever played? Uh? I thought Pebble was one. Um, unbelievable. Spyglass was really fun. Um, the Bears Club was great, the girls that the experience that the grow is great. Um, Pebbles, Pobby up there. Um. The one I want to play is probably Whistling Straights to St. Andrew's is I've never been able to. I've never played there, but I would love to go play that. That looks like an unbelievable time. Did you watch a lot of golf on TV? I do? I do. I

watched a lot of golf. I watched Zalaturus yesterday. That was unbelievable finish. I was sweet, But I do. I always come home watch golf. Um. It's great because Sunday we always have a day game mostly some most Sundays, you know, Somendays you play Sunnight Baseball, but most day games you play us on Sunday. So I'm always pumped up that after the game I can get home and finish. Like usually the golf is usually about to finish, you know, it's always like the last few holes, so it's always

kind of close. So I always recorded and I always get back home to watch it. That's I mean. I've talked to so many people that are non you know, not golfers, and they say, oh, man, I take the golf. I watched golf on my phone. I watch it all. Are you a YouTube golf person? Are you on? Are you online trying to figure out look at different things or do you kind of have your kind of group of coaches that you stick with. Yeah, I know, I for sure gone YouTube watch a lot of time. I

gonna watch a lot of Tiger videos. Phil Us do some shipping lessons on there. I would be trying to find out about um. Like I said, I got to know friend. I got to know DJ a little bit. So sometimes I'll send him videos like, hey man, what you got for me? This is not good. I don't Yeah, I don't don't sut him videos. Send m send him to me. He ain't gonna know right I should send him to you. He's got no clue. Honestly, it's it's a amazing how how It's a little bit like you know, baseball.

I mean, trying to tell someone how you do something in baseball, you know, getting into your brain and eventually I mean, I remember Michael Jordan. We were talking to Michael about something and they're asking if some about some play that he did and what he was thinking. He was like, I don't even know how I did that.

I just did it right. I think golfers are pretty I mean, there are are a couple of golfers professionals I've been around, that are good at kind of telling players what to do, But most professional golfers are the worst people to ask because they don't know how they do it. You know, yess when you say that, because whenever people ask me, like man, how did you hit that? Or like what what are you thinking about your swing? And I'm always like, man, I don't know, you know.

I'm just trying to trust my instincts and trust the work I put in. But I usually when I'm at my best, when I'm playing well, I really don't even know what to say. It's crazy how that works for a lot of those sports. I love that. Lastly, in twenty two, Nolan, no social media for you? Social media free as one of the best players in baseball, Hey, athlete in the public domain? Is that a conscious choice to not do that? Yeah? It is, you know. I uh, I'm not against it in any way. Actually, I think

it's extremely valuable for a lot of people. UM, just not me, I guess, you know. I I like to keep things private. I like to um, I just don't want to get caught up in certain things that go on on there. And I know there's a lot of trash talking, certain things and things that people say, and I don't need that in my life. I like, I like kind of just keeping my life private and not getting caught up up in a lot of things like that. Um, Like I said, I think it's actually a very valuable tool,

you know. I think it's really great. But for me, I don't know. I've never done it. I just I don't know. Man, I really don't have the main great explanation other than I just keep things private and I don't like to share too much now. I mean, listen, I think it's it's refreshing to hear someone that that isn't caught up in all of it. Um. Coming into the off season, Now, how many days a week you're gonna start playing golf? Give it to me. Come on at least three to four. Um, at three to four,

for sure, I'll be out there, um grinding. It's funny because after the baseball season, the golf game is not quite there. So I'll be on the range for a few hours to see if I can get it right in a few days. Because my boys want to play and there's some money to be one and I want to make sure I'm winning it. So in future, don't message d J ricky on on your golf swing. Send them to me. We'll take care of that. I appreciate that, and thank you. I really appreciate you talking to us.

I think, I mean, listen. I think there's so many similarities between golf and baseball, and so anytime I can get a chance to talk to someone like yourself about baseball, UM, it's fascinating. I could I could talk to you about kidding. I mean, I could talk to you about that all day. So we'll get together next time you're down to Florida. Let's get together and place some golf and uh, enjoy the off season. I appreciate it. Thanks so much for

having me. I appreciate it. Thanks. So I want to thank Nolan for coming on the pod and UH, listen, you guys have heard me say it before. That's part of the reason why I did the podcast. Talk to people that, UM love golf, and let me tell you that guy is a golf junkie. So this week Lives finale in Miami, UM, I think, listen, whether you're a fan, whether you're not a fan. UM, it's been a pretty

interesting ride. I think for everybody involved with Live and UM, I think if you'd told everybody last year at this time that Live would be doing what it's doing, having the players at scott Um having the tournaments UM all around the world and having the winners it's had, I think everybody would be surprised. So should be an interesting uh end to the live season and be interesting to see what happens a big big break. UM. I think lives starts back up again in February, so they get

an actual offseason. Rory McElroy one UH at Congary went back to number one in the world. Um, and just what a what a dominant performance by Rory has this uncanny ability when he gets kind of near the lead to birdie three holes in a row. Okay, made a couple of bogies coming in, but um, yeah, just such a dominant, dominant performance. It's been a hell of a year.

I think everything that Rory has been dealing with is kind of being the de facto spokesperson for the PGA tour UM, but the play the way he has played, because honestly, we played DJ played a practice round with with Rory UM at the British Open, and I mean you could see that, um, you know, kind of being this spokesperson for the PGA tour um, you know, everything that that Rory has been under pressure wise. You could see it. I mean you could see it weighing on him.

I mean he looked tired. UM. And but I mean the guy is just such an amazing golfer and when he is in full flow, when he I mean he is, he looks like he was born with a driver in his hand. And uh, you know, I'm a huge fan. I love the way he plays golf and when when he's on, um, you know, he's almost he's almost hard to beat. UM. There's a few guys like that, and

he is definitely one of them. But interestingly, UM, you know I just mentioned that liv gets almost four months off and Rory um talking about, you know, after his win that he thinks there should be a longer break in the fall for the p G A Tour. I know a lot of players have talked about that. Um, that's been being talked about by all the big stars UM for quite some time. UM, them wanting and needing

an offseason the live guys get it. And then you've got Rory McAuley saying that the PGA Tour guy should get it as well. So, UM, pretty interesting times. UM, you know, Rory, at the beginning of this year, you know it always looks like you know, he's the guy to beat, but then you know he misses cuts, isn't winning, and then all of a sudden he just starts banging

out wins like the Rory of Olds. So it would be interesting to see with a pretty lengthy break when he comes back and plays, UM back to world number one, And UM, you know next year, what do the official World Golf rankings UM look like? Are their changes? UM? Do the live guys get points? UM? If the live guys don't get points and you've got players like camp Smith and Dustin Johnson, UM and Brooks kept a winning on live, UM, I think they could win anywhere in

watching the way that they've been playing. UM. And I think it would be really interesting, UM what actually happens? What three is going to look like for professional golf? But UM interesting times and UM I'm excited to see UM how of this week's team competition pans out? UM. Listen, I'm I worked with three players that play on on live and two of them are on the same team

in Pat Perez and Dustin Johnson. And one of the things that I think is being massively, massively UM overlooked, and UM a lot of people just don't even come close to understanding is UM. The team part of of Live is it's very very real. UM. And I'm only saying that because I've watched it, I've witnessed it up close and UM, really seen it for real and it's UM. The guys love it. The guys who are invested in it, the guys are UM. They're constantly talking about it, and UM,

I think it should be an interesting weekend. I want to thank everyone for listening. We We've got a bunch of great guests, a bunch of past episodes that are fantastic, and if you haven't taken a look at some of the stuff we've done in the past, go check it out. And UM, I think you will get a lot out of it, and I think you will enjoy listening to some of the guests that we have had. Son of a which comes to you every Wednesday. We will see you next week.