Cubs Third Baseman Patrick Wisdom Explains What It Is Like To Step in the Batter’s Box and Face Jacob deGrom
On today's Pardon My Take... PATRICK WISDOM! The rising star for the Chicago Cubs joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter on today's show to discuss the hot streak he has been on, what he would do if he received a potential invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby, the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, and much more. When this interview took place, Wisdom and the Cubs were actually in town here in New York to take on the Mets. The night before he came into HQ, Wisdom faced Jacob deGrom (and struck out). What went through his mind when he faced one of the greatest pitchers in baseball? Wisdom explained on today's show:
Mr. Cat: I saw you in the hallway and I mentioned it to you, but you guys played against Jacob deGrom last night. Just how much does that suck? Like, actually put it into perspective for the regular fan, how different it is going up against deGrom versus everyone else?
Patrick Wisdom: Yeah, it was major suck. He shoved it last night, it's like going into a test knowing you're going to fail, like there's nothing you can do. He's just going to overpower you and you're going to walk back to the dugout saying, "I don't know what I'm doing out here."
Mr. Commenter: Just answer "C" every time and maybe one out of every four times, it will be right. You've got to like sit on one pitch, so a guy like that, is there just one pitch that you're waiting for, you're like, "Maybe I'll get a slider that doesn't break."
Patrick Wisdom: Yeah, or it's maybe the 100 MPH fastball that you try to hit. But, I mean, the first pitch, I barely even saw. Like, it hit the glove and I'm like, "Huh."
Mr. Cat: Really? Because it's that fast and that much movement and everything...
Patrick Wisdom: It explodes out of his hand, and it gains speed as it gets to the glove. It was something I'd never seen before, obviously.
Mr. Cat: Wow.
Mr. Commenter: Sounds terrifying, honestly.
Mr. Cat: I guess the scouting report is just hope he has to leave with some kind of cramp or something, even though, like, that's the craziest part, is how good he's been. And he's also been injured like every other day.
Hitting a baseball against a Major League pitcher is a very, very tough task. Hitting a baseball against Jacob deGrom seems like an impossible one. Props to these big leaguers who somehow make it happen during the rare occasion, because he is obviously one of, if not the best in the game.
