Gabriel Sánchez (Transcript)
Robby Incmikoski: Beautiful, former All-Star Gabby Sanchez? Hey, I want to ask you, you're a Miami guy and you played for the Marlins and you played the first ever game in that stadium. How cool. that you're playing career, has come to a close. I don't know how much you reflect back on your playing days gab, but how cool is that for a Miami guy to play in the first ever game in Miami in that ballpark?
Gabriel Sánchez: I mean it was really cool because I mean, when I was a kid, I grew up going to the old stadium, the football stadium, which had nine or ten different names while I was even playing there. So, getting into in actual baseball, stadium one that had a roof because every single day would rain at five o'clock in the afternoon and we would have three hour rain, delays, every single day because we live in Miami, not having to worry about that was a lot of fun, but just being a part of the first ever at least stadium. I think that was just a cool experience. It's actually the way that it was. I mean very
Gabriel Sánchez: It's a lot different now than it was there. then it was very artistic and Lori, that's what he was. He made his money in, selling paintings and he made the stadium that very color vibrant. And then now you see it, and it's more of like a regular, stadium where you have the blue seats, and before you have different colors of everything. So, I mean, I think it was a cool for me. growing up in Miami being able to say that. I was the first one to step foot on that field and play first base, that was blueberry.
Robby Incmikoski: My God. it's got to be amazing. What was it like making a switch because you have played a couple years that at the Dolphin Stadium before, moving over to Marlins Park, obviously Low Depot Park book called Barnes Park, so What was that?
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: For the players like knowing that? Hey, what? We're gonna be able to take BP every day, where's at the old stadium you're not sure you can take BP every day because the rain, what was that? for you guys just adjusting. What was the vibe like in that clubhouse?
Gabriel Sánchez:
Gabriel Sánchez: Remember too that a little one, that year, they had gotten a lot of new players as well because they were trying to, create a winning team. So you had the Burleys, coming in as a starting pitch.
Robby Incmikoski: That's right.
Gabriel Sánchez: You had What's his name? the shortstop.
Robby Incmikoski: And Ram. You had Jose Reyes.
Gabriel Sánchez: Various Jose Reyes was coming in Handley switching over from shortstop, born a third base, So there was some new blood coming in that part was cool. You talk about just being able to take DP knowing that the game is not gonna be delayed. Even though, I believe, the next year, they did have a problem with the roof closing and they had a flood in the first opening day the following year, not my year. So there was as a player too.
Gabriel Sánchez: You knew what you were gonna do, It was. Hey, we're gonna go out, we're gonna take BP and we're not gonna have to sweat through, five different shirts anymore because now you're in a controlled environment where the AC is on so that made it a lot easier as a player as well. You're not going out there and just feeling the heat just bear down on you sweating through your clothes, the pictures on the mound. I remember Josh Johnson in the old stadium would have seven jerseys hanging because every single inning he would have to take off rinse off that Put on New Jersey like there was none of that. So that part was cool.
Gabriel Sánchez: But we were also the guinea pigs, Because they remember that stadium started off with grass and the grass kept dying. So, all the infield was, not the same in the beginning of the year as it was after a month or after two months. And now all of a sudden they have curve and they turned the whole entire, stadium, but They wanted to have grass and realized indoor not gonna work out that roof the way that it closes, you're not able to get the sunlight that you need. So there was a lot of still working to do also stainless huge. the fence was
Gabriel Sánchez: 360 it felt like the left field and 428 feet to center There's like you crushed the ball and…
Robby Incmikoski:
Gabriel Sánchez: this is absolutely ridiculous and then they moved in all the stadiums and even now when I tell the players Hey take a look at where center field is Compared to now. And they'll be like, What are you talking about? I'm like, you can actually see the line of where centerfield used to be in there. Wait, you have to hit it over that? And I'm like, yes. And they're like, That's ridiculous. So, we were like the guinea pigs of that stadium, but still fun. Going from playing at a football stadium venue style. So now playing in an indoor baseball knowing that, hey, we don't have to worry about these three hour rain delays anymore.
Robby Incmikoski: and you raise an interesting point. I vaguely remember that gap? So did they switch the grass out in the middle of the season? You said that? I hear that right?
Gabriel Sánchez: It was no. So they would have to always in that first year. They were always having to bring in new grass because there were spots that would just get messed up and they're nothing that they could…
Robby Incmikoski: but,
Gabriel Sánchez: It wasn't an outdoor stadium. the grass is gonna die inside. So I never like there was times at first base…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: where it was almost more sand on the infield, then it was grass because they were trying to fill in all the stuff and the balls aren't gonna play the same way off of that off of grass. And then I believe that what can't remember when they finally did change out to turf after I was already done playing when I was there, there was no turf.
Robby Incmikoski: That's what I'm wondering. Yeah. which leads me to my question and this is stuff. We really like to get into. We talked about the Morno too. So you're an infielder. What is it? thinking, man, I hope I don't get a bad hopper a ball, doesn't, end up down the line in the right field corner that shouldn't be there and three run score. I mean what was that adjustment process like for you on a day to day basis? Or I should say homestand the homestand basis or whatever?
Gabriel Sánchez: luckily when you played at the football stadium, you kind of Had that already because when football season starts remember they're playing on top of baseball stadiums. you're playing on the dirt and they're playing football on the dirt. So there were times where after the football games we would come in and play. let's say Thursday, they played on Sunday.
Gabriel Sánchez: And that field was just completely destroyed and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: and I was already used to get being okay I need to navigate my way playing first base because I know that over here there's a lot of soft spots over here. It's a little bit harder. So if I get a grand ball here, be careful just stay in front of it. Let that ball just bounce off with you, pick it up and give it to the picture because you don't know…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: what kind of hops it's gonna take. So, I was already kind of used to that from the old stadium not thinking that we needed it for, the Marlin Stadium.
Gabriel Sánchez: what it is kind of situation where Hey we're in a big leagues,…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: I'm not gonna let this get me down or have to worry about it. Ground ball. Gets it. Just make the play who care?
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: Thought that was my mentality, doesn't matter even if it bounces off me, even if I have to throw a hand up, because it's coming to my face, whatever it might be good.
Robby Incmikoski: Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: I never thought about it as this stinks, yesterday. It was great today. all the sudden there's been
Robby Incmikoski: so, That's interesting. Another facet when you're batting in that ballpark Moreau had some interesting things to say about target field. What was it like adjusting as a hitter to a whole new ballpark? I mean, I remember it was ginormous. I know, they moved to fence in and all that we'll talk about the art and all the other stuff in a moment. But what was it just adjusting, you get as a team. How long did it take for you guys to kind of get comfortable just in the box in your new home ballpark?
Gabriel Sánchez: What was funny is the batter's eye in center field. When they first painted it. it was a different color. So we played Was it we played against the Yankees to open up the stadium before we played against the Cardinals? So it was like a preseason kind of game,…
Robby Incmikoski: Okay, yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: but before then, we had played against, I believe it was something like that. Where we're he and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah. Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: We can't really see the ball it was a glare in the batter's eye and we all went to the ownership group and we're the president which was Samson at that time. And we're like, we can't see, the pictures gonna get on the mound. We're not gonna have any clue where that ball is. It's too shiny. We have to do something about it and they had to roofing the whole entire batter's eye. Before we played against the Yankees, just because everybody was like, that's gonna be impossible. We have to, do something about this.
Robby Incmikoski: That was between the preseason game and that opening day against Saint Louis, which was first.
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: So How did you get to Samson? Was it just so So that was the experience playing in the preseason game. Correct, that you guys did not enjoy the batter's…
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah. It was I believe it…
Robby Incmikoski: so was it
Gabriel Sánchez: I believe it was and by the time we were already playing against the Yankees that I already been changed. They did that real quick. They painted
Robby Incmikoski: So happy, how do you make that decision? Did the first couple guys? Come like, man, that doesn't feel comfortable and then another couple guys and a couple things later. all right. This is something we absolutely cannot allow how quick did you reach that decision as a group?
Gabriel Sánchez: The good thing with Samson is that he was always there. You…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: they were always in the clubhouse. They're always give me a second. Hey,
Gabriel Sánchez: yeah, It was my kids. It's the dogs.
Robby Incmikoski: But a few hours apiece gab.
Gabriel Sánchez: So Samson and the ownership group are always there and they always were asking questions, they were always, Hey, tell us what you think I was How is that? So when we're getting BP that first day they were there. They're behind watching us so right away, you could just turn around and be like that ain't gonna work. We need to do something with that better side.
Robby Incmikoski: And they had to make it darker. You said Right? Is that what?
Gabriel Sánchez: Because it was saying, it was a shiny kind of coat material that they put. And we're like No,…
Robby Incmikoski: Okay.
Gabriel Sánchez: that ain't gonna work. We need that to get changed. We can't be shiny because we're not really picking up the baseball and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah. Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: they said no problem. by the time we were playing the Yankees, it was already done.
Robby Incmikoski: Hey, why did you guys I was looking at the schedule results You guys only played one game against…
Gabriel Sánchez: One game against.
Robby Incmikoski: so you had opening day and you guys went on the road after that you guys went to Cincinnati and…
Gabriel Sánchez: Yep.
Robby Incmikoski: Philly after that. Was that what they wanted to do? Just play one game kind of see how this and then you guys go on the road. If they have to make adjustments, they can do it.
Gabriel Sánchez: I believe they just wanted to have the national game and I think that was the first game that was playing. So it was like, you're gonna play one game
Robby Incmikoski: I think that you mentioned that? it open on a Wednesday, which is rare.
Gabriel Sánchez: yeah, because of…
Robby Incmikoski: It's the third that often Friday. Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: where So they wanted to have that first game with the new stadium, new ballpark, new coaching staff was there everything,…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: they made it as spectacle we go out there. when we're doing our walk-ups for our names being called for the lineups, there's these dancing Flamingo girls, kind of thing, going on each arm as we're going out, it was a spectacle.
Robby Incmikoski: Crazy.
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah, so speaking of the spectacle, I want to get into the art stuff. What the hell is it? Like having a fish tank At your home ballpark?
Gabriel Sánchez: You know what? I liked it, I thought it was unique. you are in Miami. You're by the water you're bringing in, that outside and no other Stadium had that.
Gabriel Sánchez: so, I thought it was a unique little fun thing, especially for the fans instead of having all this. Stuff behind of trying to sell cars and here's your Nissan lines and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: here's this kind of signs. No, it was a fish tank and I thought it was cool. mean of course the whole entire thought process was if I had a foul ball and it goes straight back and it's a hundred and five miles an hour off the bat what is gonna happen if nothing shatters
Gabriel Sánchez: for everybody, it was kind of like Imagine you're playing a game And there's water everywhere and…
Robby Incmikoski: And there's fish on the infield dirt? Yeah. Of…
Gabriel Sánchez: fish or flopping around. I feel pretty bad, like, I want to kill you.
Robby Incmikoski: Did you guys you had? I specifically. I remember you saying, was it Stanton? I can't remember who it was, but I remember you guys staying like you would like soft cost balls. To each other to try.
Gabriel Sánchez: .
Robby Incmikoski: I'm like if we got Mike Stanton hammer and balls at this glass and it ain't me If this guy does it, you know what I mean? I vaguely. Remember you saying that Do you recall that or you guys messing around with at some point?
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah, so one day I get a call while they're still kind of doing the stadium. It's kind of still being worked on there. There was still sand on the field and I get a call from Samson and David Samson tells me. Hey, I want you to come to the ballpark and I need your help with something and…
Robby Incmikoski: Okay.
Gabriel Sánchez: I'm like, Okay, what is it that you need me to do? Once you to throw balls as hard as you can at the fish tank and I'm like, What are you talking about? And he's just come to the ballpark. So I'm like all right, so I go over to the ballpark, I always did whenever the team needed to do anything, just call me, I'll be there. I live, 15 minutes from the stadium, not a big deal. Let me go. So I get there and All of a sudden, there's TV, crews setting up and channel settings there and all these other channels. I'm like, what is going on right now? He goes. I want you to get this ball and throw it as hard as you can. At the fish tank because we want to see if the fish tank is gonna be able to hold up. So I'm like, alright, I mean, I'm not throwing 98 miles an hour, but, I could give it
Robby Incmikoski: I thought 70s 80s. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah, I can throw it in the eight in the low mid upper 80s, especially at that time. My arm was still really good. So I guess sure what let me get that thing. And again, I'm just hammering this fish tank, throwing it, as hard as I possibly can. And of course, it's not the greatest for you to throw because I told you they were still parked, it's hadn't been done yet. So there's Sam. So I'm stepping in sand and I'm throwing that thing as hard as I possibly can. I'm not even making a scratch on this fish tank and after that I went, all right, maybe this thing can take a good beating and a good line driving It won't really matter.
Robby Incmikoski: And that was in the offseason, As a ballpark was still directed.
Gabriel Sánchez: but, Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: Okay, that's amazing. The home run, sculpture. Let me backtrack. So, let's go to a wider view. Real quick and only cut more and then I'm letting you go. When you Like players know what's up in that clubhouse? They know who the owner is. They know what the owner does. Players know what's up? Yeah, they have to focus on baseball but dude, I spent 16 years in major league club houses. I know the vibe. And I know all the coaches, I know what's up for the most part, So you know how Jeffrey had made his money, you're a Miami guy, about him all that. So you had a little more knowledge and probably most of your teammates being a local guy. But when you get in that park there was no experience like going to Miami. and as we said this before it and I'm not ripping Miami as a baseball city because there's so many other things to do, there's South Beach, you get the beach, you got water, you got
Robby Incmikoski: there's so many things to do in Miami that sport like San Diego, same thing, there's just so many things to compete with. but, what is it like playing in that kind of vibe. You're like fish, tank sculpture colors, dancers music instruments. I mean that's not your average baseball experience.
Gabriel Sánchez: But now then they also have the Cleveland they're out in the left center,…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah the clave under with the dance everything.
Gabriel Sánchez: but girls with The girls,…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah. Right next to the bullpen.
Gabriel Sánchez: the girls would get painted. It would put the stickers on and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah, it's crazy.
Gabriel Sánchez: they'll be out there. Getting painted and I'm almost positive, They switched the bullpens because our players were next to the Clevelander and they were just paying attention the whole entire time to what was going on in the Clevelander with, the girls getting painted and all the dancing and all the stuff that was going up that they were paying attention to the game and the order was like, Okay we're gonna have to switch. So switched, put the other team over there. So let them concentrate on the Clevelander stuff because it was a pool in there too. So people were, bathing suits going into the pool water. and then I believe later on they did switch back once they stopped doing that kind of stuff and they also got rid of the pool but it was just like
Gabriel Sánchez: It was more of, I believe what they were trying to do was make it, kind of like a destination, like cool hangout spot while the game was still going, make it this, artistic kind of ballpark and also, there's baseball going on.
Robby Incmikoski: Crazy.
Gabriel Sánchez: It was different, but it was still a lot of fun. I mean, you talk about the home run sculpture that was none of that, and all of a sudden they're building this home run sculpture that every single time you hit a home run the fish would go around in a circle, I believe that they didn't realize that they made it so hard to hit all one that's culture wasn't gonna go up as much as they thought only with standing that was gonna be your guy when Sam was coming up. That was when that button was gonna be pressed for the home run sculpture if not It was tough. It was a tough part to hit a home run in
Robby Incmikoski: So that's why I was going to go with the sculpture. what's your reaction, the first time, you see that thing when you step in the ballpark,
Gabriel Sánchez: Me honestly I was like What is this? I was more of an old school kind of like baseball, mine at that point. So I'm looking at the sculpture going it's a little too much, I get it as a artistic kind of, sculpture Cool. But for me, I'm like just bring in that fence, Don't worry about how.
Gabriel Sánchez: Bringing the fence. Let me hit a home run. I don't care about the sculpture right now…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: but it was still something you need you hit the home guys with aim for it and BP, Let's see. We can, knock some stuff off in that home run sculpture and try to hit line drives off of it. I think the player though,…
Robby Incmikoski: but, Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: we don't care.
Robby Incmikoski: That's what I figured, yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah, the only thing I cared about was why did we have to make this into a Pitcher's ballpark. Why couldn't we make this into both let it be a pictures and a hitters ballpark. Let's bring these fences And eventually they did I think after a couple years they realized Okay this is a little unfair for the hitters because you just crush the ball and a guy would go 420 feet to center field and just Attach it.
Robby Incmikoski: Just a running. Catch. Yeah,…
Robby Incmikoski: I remember that.
Gabriel Sánchez: And…
Gabriel Sánchez: you would run right by the picture of the picture would start laughing being like, that's a home run in every other part for up,…
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah, no doubt.
Gabriel Sánchez: you're like whatever.
Robby Incmikoski: No doubt. let me says before I let you go. We like to tell people. So the goal, this book is to give people tour around baseball from the comfort of their own home, sitting on their couch, reading it. And it's interesting for some of these ballparks, like, you go to some places. You kind of know what you're getting into. what it is? what the vibes like, what the fans are? that kind of thing. But Miami so unique gab. So, If there's a fan that hasn't been to the ballpark there and you're a Miami guy, the Miami vibe, what, it's like, if you Like somebody says, Hey Gabby, I'm thinking of going to Miami. For a game. What would you tell him to expect in terms of the ballpark experience?
Gabriel Sánchez: Now it's a little bit different. So now for me, it's more of like a Baseball, Stadium type field. Then, anything else?
Gabriel Sánchez: Of course now it's altered. So it really is a beautiful ballpark when you put it's no PNC.
Robby Incmikoski: yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: In my opinion, PNC is the most beautiful ballpark in all of baseball. but It's 90 degrees outside and…
Robby Incmikoski: No doubt.
Gabriel Sánchez: you go in there and it's a nice, 70 72. so it's a comfort
Robby Incmikoski: Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: 17,000 people fill in that stadium, it's loud. because everything's enclosedy. the sound kind of goes around. It gets loud,…
Robby Incmikoski: Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: it's a lot of fun. They do a lot of things for the fans too and now, stepping away from being a player and now going into More of the media side of it. You kind of see that trying to, get the fans Comfortable to come to the stadium to be able to watch a baseball game and then really it's just like every other part though what you're gonna expect in the other parts is what you're gonna expect There is a lot of fun stuff. Now they just created a Hall of Fame area kind of showing the years progressions from 93 till now world titles so that there's cool things in there.
Robby Incmikoski: Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: But for a fan I feel like I'm missing two ballparks. You get to all 30 and…
Robby Incmikoski: What are they?
Gabriel Sánchez: Minnesota, Ronald. So those are the two that I'm missing.
Robby Incmikoski: are okay.
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: so, I feel like…
Gabriel Sánchez: if you are a baseball fan, You want to get to all 30, you want to see all 30, You want to see all the different things they still do have, instead of now, the Clevelander now it's the recess lounge, where they do have parties, they have that kind of experience.
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: They took the sculpture home run, sculpture, they actually moved it outside.
Robby Incmikoski: I've been there a bunch since so yeah, I'm familiar with the upgrades. I was just curious with just what the vibe is for people who are there all the time, like you
Gabriel Sánchez: I mean, I feel like the vibe is just kind of like every other ballpark, you have fans who come in, who are rooting for Marlins, and you have fans who come in, who are rooting for the other teams. it's a fun kind of sporting stadium that has everything that you want to have.
Robby Incmikoski: Right. Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: Final thing. and I kind of touched on this before, but there are millions of millions of kids, Who want to play big league baseball. You did it for almost a decade, right? You lived out millions and millions and millions of kids dreams. My question to you is this I grew up in Philadelphia, My dream in life. Was to play for the Phillies my ultimate dream was to play for the Phillies. And I wanted to play first base for the Phillies right now. I want to hit homers because Mike Schmidt was my favorite player, right? So I pretended, I was my kitten, Mike Schmidt. We have the same birthday I realized him as a kid, right? So
Robby Incmikoski: You live that dream, Not only did you make, the major leagues, but you played for your hometown team. I know you were born before that. I get all that. They weren't a franchise when you were born and, younger kid but you still did it. what comes to mind?
Gabriel Sánchez: Right.
Robby Incmikoski: I don't know how many Miami ends played for the Marlins. How** cool is that what I mean to play for your hometown, team growing up for what? Four, five, six years, maybe something like that.
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: Play for him.
Gabriel Sánchez: I mean it was Because, yes, you are right. When I was, born they didn't have, a stadium,…
Robby Incmikoski: You were born in 83,…
Gabriel Sánchez: it wasn't until Yeah,…
Robby Incmikoski: so you were 10 when the Marlins the franchise.
Gabriel Sánchez: 10 years later.
Robby Incmikoski: So you were old enough to know what's going on,
Gabriel Sánchez: I was old enough. To know, I would watch, the Braves play on TDS and that was my thing,…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: growing up, I was watching the brakes and then all of a sudden it was like, Wait a minute. We're gonna have a team in Miami. I'm gonna actually be able to go to the stadium and watch a team play. So my team was the Braves and then all of a sudden Marlins came and I'm like, yeah, we got a hometown team. I don't have to worry about, never going to a baseball game because, I so I remember seeing in of the football stadium. Watching the Marlins play, got to go to playoff games. Didn't get to go to the World Series, didn't have those tickets, but didn't get to go to some playoff games, went to, the parades when they had the parades. I remember sitting in the stands and being like one day, I'm gonna play on that field. One day, I'm gonna do it.
Gabriel Sánchez: And everybody just like everything else. Hey, it's hard, you said, not many people can play in the big leagues. I remember hearing something not too long ago…
Robby Incmikoski: The.
Gabriel Sánchez: where the amount of players that have played in the big leagues. If you go to, let's say, Dodger Stadium or whatever it is. If you get all those guys and…
Robby Incmikoski: I know where you're going. You're exactly right.
Gabriel Sánchez: put them in, you're not even half the stadium of the guys play.
Robby Incmikoski: I was hoping that the 20,000th MLB player was going to be a pirate so I can have a little fun with that and it wasn't but they're like maybe not, even 21,000 players. You couldn't even fill a stadium halfway with every player in the history of making baseball.
Gabriel Sánchez: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: History.
Robby Incmikoski: That's insane to think about
Gabriel Sánchez: And when you take into perspective of, The years of baseball throughout time. And you're not even feeling up a stadium with the amount of players with played.
Robby Incmikoski: Could. yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: That Is Crazy but when I was a younger kid that number was even smaller, so looking at it being like, you're gonna play the daily all right. you better work, it's hard as you possibly can, you better put your time and you better put your effort in because if not you ain't gonna make it there. And then when I first got that call up…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: where I was in Double A and I had just finished winning the Southern League Player of the Year for Double A And they,…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: they're like, you're getting called up to the big leagues. You're kind of like, I expected it, I earned my spot in the big leagues At that point. I had produced in the minor leagues. The whole entire time didn't have a bad year. I had done everything that I needed to do to get to that point. And then I get to the stadium. And walking in. Seeing my name on the back of this* of the jersey hanging up, which has that the steal the deal with the beautiful jersey. for me They have to get back to that, but that's for another,
Robby Incmikoski: Right. Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: But it was just real moment because I had been there as a kid that nobody else on that team. Had lived in grew up in Marlins fan. saw the progression from year, one to where I'm at now. Sitting in the stands being a fan. And now, all of a sudden, I remember the first time that I stepped foot, on that field and looked up to where I used to sit and being like, check There it is. I just finished, fulfilling that dream. Damn, here we go. and for me, It wasn't the first hit, it wasn't the first home run. It was the first time of putting on that jersey. And the pants and the stirrups, and going out and walking on that field.
Gabriel Sánchez: that was the coolest moment for me because of how much time dedication. I put in and it finally got rewarded.
Robby Incmikoski: That's amazing that really is. And that's cool I got nothing else for you brother. I appreciate your time, your candidness, your candor. I should say. And what's crazy gab, I'm looking you played for home games before you got your first tip which was at Washington. How about that In Miami kid, not that it matters. You got almost a decade in the big league is everything worked out great. You made an All-Star team but still holy hell, one more thing.
Gabriel Sánchez: Yeah, it was a yeah. Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: One more question, you all start team in 2011, and I like to ask people that do this. Matt Caps is a good friend of mine. He made an All-Star team the year before in 2010. That game was in Arizona, if I remember correctly, you're All-Star game, so What is it stepping into a clubhouse? Thinking Man, I don't know if this is ever gonna happen again in your case it didn't. But what is it like stepping into a clubhouse with the greatest players in the entire world.
Gabriel Sánchez: Nervous. that's the only thing that I could say because you're walking in, and you're just seeing the names of all the best players in the world, just like you're talking about and you're just look at that There's Roy Holiday. there's pools. you're just going around. You're like, should I even be in here? And luckily, that year, Ryan Braun was made the team who I was with that UN.
Gabriel Sánchez: And we had,…
Robby Incmikoski: Okay, that's right. Yeah.
Gabriel Sánchez: we were friends together so we have, Craftsman sophomore, Junior, we're all there together. we were great friend. We're best friends going through and all the sudden we're on the same, All Star team so that made it a little bit easier because then it's like, okay, I have my buddy, I get to hang out with my college, Roommate and here we are in the big leads in an All-Star game. And now I'm starting to chat it up with, rivals, like the Phillies. Every single one of their starting pitches was on the team because they were so good,…
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: And now you get to talk to them and you're getting a different perspective during the season. We're enemies, like we're at we're back.
Robby Incmikoski: Yeah.
Gabriel Sanchez: But right, then in there, no, we're just players, we're just friends Hey, what's going on? Hey, remember this and hey, I'm never gonna throw you this pitch again because every single time I throw it, you lock it up.
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: On you just getting that kind of interaction to where you're never getting that anywhere else, they're not gonna tell you how they're gonna pitch to you. But I remember …
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: talking with Clayton Kershaw and he was like, Dude, I'm not throwing the fastball from here, I'd like to do. I'm not gonna throw you a fastball because every single time I'm thinking that I'm gonna be able to get you the fastball, your hammering it so. No, I'm gonna start. So then all of a sudden, we play two weeks later. What is he doing? He's throwing me breaking balls and now I'm sitting on breaking balls and man like we're gonna do of course.
Robby Incmikoski: By the way, I just did some rough math, I counted somewhere between maybe 11 Hall of Famers were on that 2011 All-Star team.
Gabriel Sánchez: How much and I have a backside by I'm two jerseys actually signed by everybody at a bat.
Robby Incmikoski: you do. Okay so I was remember Billy Wise so you have an autographed bat and two autographed jerseys by the whole team.
Gabriel Sánchez: So in my office that right now is it's not really officious, I have to go in there and start fixing it up before. The February comes around, but I have a brain.
Robby Incmikoski: Right.
Gabriel Sánchez: And in the frame it's one of the jerseys and the jersey has that all the signatures of the guys. and…
Robby Incmikoski: Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: then I also have a bat with everybody has a signature on that same jersey. My name plate for the All-Star game is on there and then I believe. one of Yeah.
Robby Incmikoski: your locker name, you got your locker plate, right? Is that yep. Yep.
Gabriel Sánchez: On it. And then I have another one, the same exact way. That my brother has in his office and another, they gave us two jerseys. So that was another one of the jerseys, and I think has the Home Run Derby ball. The gold,…
Robby Incmikoski: that's
Gabriel Sánchez: the gold, how they would do that. So I have one of those in there. Stuff I would never get rid of that's gonna get passed down to the kids and let they could do whatever they want. Once it gets passed out.
Robby Incmikoski: That is so cool, That's amazing. That really is cool. All right Gap. Thank you brother. I appreciate your time, All right,…
Gabriel Sánchez: That's my pleasure.