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Live Chat With Former MLB Pitcher Cory Wade
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Cory Wade
9:57
Hello everyone.  I really appreciate Tim inviting me to do this.  Being able to interact with the fans is always fun and keeps the interest in the game.
Duffy Scliff
9:57
Thanks for doing this Cory! What attracted you to the scouting side of the sport that made you want to have a career in it after your playing days were done?
Cory Wade
9:59
great question Duffy.  What attracted me the most about the scouting was just being able to stay involved in the game as much as possible.  It was a really natural adjustment going from playing and right into the scouting realm.
10:02
IBleeedBlue I appreciate the fandom and wouldnt expect anything less from a Dodgers fan.  Playing for Joe as a rookie was intimidating at first but quickly realized he was a pretty simple person and communicated well with his players.  As far as the yankees players picking my brain, that didnt happen much.  Most of those guys had spent plenty of time with the him and they were the ones actually telling me stories about joe.jk
sorry for the Jk. typo. haha
Jeff
10:02
In your opinion what's the biggest change in the game from when you pitched to today?
Cory Wade
10:05
the biggest change i see from the time i played is all of the analytical data that is involved in all aspects of the game.  For better or for worse.  It was a little more "old school".  there was a lot more feel into what we were doing bc we didnt have as much data.  But i sure would have been nice to have that data at times.  especially when facing shane victorino.  but lets not rip that scab off.
DodgerST
10:05
Your first mlb season was your best, but you set career highs in appearances and innings.  Do you feel you might have been overused as a rookie?
Cory Wade
10:08
Great question DodgerST.  I do think there was overuse during that season but that is also chalked up to not having a full understanding of who i was and being scared to speak up.  But most importantly, It was my job to go out and pitch to the best of my abilities when my name was called.  it was a lot of fun being out there in crucial moments to help that team win, which we did a lot of that year.
BravesFan22
10:08
Cory, Is there one teammate or coach that you can point to that made the biggest impression on you?
Cory Wade
10:11
Great question BravesFan22.  FYI, I was a diehard braves fan growing up.  But to your question the one teammate that made the biggest impression was easily Juan Pierre.  Thats not to discredit any of the great teammates I had throughout my career, but he showed me the initial ropes.  He made very good money and never changed.  He came to the field everyday at the same time, hit, bunted, ran and got his work in like clock work.  It set a clear example immediately.  Such a great person.
Ray
10:11
Is pitching in Colorado, even as a visitor, as difficult as they say?
Cory Wade
10:14
Ray this is a very intriguing question. Pitching in colorado was very difficult especially for the type of pitcher that I was.  breaking pitches move less, your fingers are slick and dry, The balls are slick and hard to grip and lastly the baseballs carry like crazy.  And that doesnt take into account the lack of recovery the next day.  So in short it was very hard. haha
Loren
10:15
Hi Cory. Thanks for sitting in today. When you - or any pitcher - develops a major arm injury, how does it affect your psyche? Does it raise your anxiety? How scared are you that that could be your career? What went through your head?
Cory Wade
10:18
Hi loren.  I was unfortunately a person that had to deal with this in his career.  When pitchers or players have major injuries it can affect your psyche.  That is easily the biggest hurdle bc its in the back of your head that you will injure yourself again.  But once your make your initial rehab outing and you come out ok you begin to feel much more relax
Caleb
10:18
Hey Cory, thanks for doing this. I'm actually from Kentucky myself and considered going to Kentucky Wesleyan for college. What is your favorite memory from your playing days, and what stage of throwing would you be at this point in the offseason?
Cory Wade
10:20
Hey caleb.  thats interesting you thought of going to Wesleyan also.  My favorite memory of my playing days was going to the playoffs and beating the Cubs in the postseason.  at the time the dodgers hadnt done much in the postseason since the 80s so getting an opportunity to get that monkey off the organizations back in my rookie year will be something i will never forget
Mickey
10:20
Which players today do you like to watch or admire?
Cory Wade
10:22
I love the this question.  There are so many quality players to watch in baseball right now.  But if I am a paying fan and have to watch one player its Mookie Betts.  He is an insane athlete and undersized but you would never know that watching him.  The ease at which he plays is impressive.  a fun fun player to watch.
Walton Dilcox
10:23
Not to be weird but black pitchers aren’t exactly growing on trees, it’s bugged me since I was a kid (I knew a dude who got drafted by the Packers, first love was baseball but it wasn’t like The sport to play). Do you think the sport could
Cory Wade
10:26
Walton this is an important question to ask, so thank you.  Baseball is in a weird spot with how the sport is being grown domestically.  Its hard to cultivate those players bc grass roots baseball has become so insanely expensive it prices out a lot of kids.  Then once you make it, its more years in the minors with very little pay.  Basketball and football have more instant gratification in how the sports work and barrier of entrance is much lower.  I think baseball could do better in lowering the barrier at those grassroots levels to drum up interest in the game.
Pitchers Who Rake
10:26
Only one hit in your entire professional career. Tell us about it!
Cory Wade
10:28
Yes pitchers do rake. lol.  that one hit came when i was in Triple A.  i was relieving and the manager told me i was going to bat for myself.  It was freezing cold and i had no intention of stinging my hands and still have to throw the next inning.  But the other players told me swing.  So i ambushed the pitcher first pitch.  that was a proud moment for me.  but also played i stayed a pitcher.  hitting is hard.
Walton Dilcox
10:28
How do you feel about today’s obsession with Data (all hail) and efficiency?
Cory Wade
10:31
Im not a big fan of the data obsession of the game. I think it has slowed the game down and doesnt always allow the players show off their underrated athleticism.  I think the data has eliminated many aspects of the game like stealing bases and the hit/run out of fear of running into outs.  Eliminating those things makes it easier to pitch to I dont have to worry about much bc no one is moving around behind me trying to take bases.  I would love to see that stuff come back in the game but its beautiful to watch.
Brad
10:31
Cory! Great to hear from you. I worked in the front office of Columbus in 2005. How much did you learn from Travis Barbary and Glenn Dishman that you carried from Lo-A to the bigs?
Did the sparse crowds impact performance at all? (Also, to brag on you, Cory once allowed a lead off base hit and then retired the next 27 in order that year)
Cory Wade
10:33
Hey brad!  hope all has been well.  I have very fond memories of my time in columbus.  we had a fantastic coaching staff there and being able to learn from travis and Dish was awesome.  The very demanding but fun coaches that expected us to go out and work.  Great family men that taught us how to grow up on and off the field.
NinjaFish
10:34
Thanks for chatting with us, Cory. The first time you took the mound in the postseason did it feel different for you? Or as a player do you try to put that out of your mind out there?
Cory Wade
10:36
Hello Ninjafish.  btw love the screen name.  taking the mound the first time in the postseason was vastly different then the regular season.  the air was different and the atmosphere in the stadiums was much more tense.  but once you started actually playing your instincts have a tendency to take over and its just another day. most of that anxiety we feel is all prior to the games.  once the games start going it levels off.  but there is nothing like playing int he post season
mike h
10:37
In MLB what was your favorite ballpark to go to on the road and do you go out explore the city when on the road?
Cory Wade
10:39
my favorite ballpark to visit was PNC.  that place is so underrated.  The view you get at that place is next to none.  But as far as the atmosphere goes its hard to beat Fenway or Wrigley.  such nostalgic places to play and the fans were engaged from the word "Go".   And as far as exploring the cities most of the guys would go around and take tours of cool spots in each city when time allowed
Erik
10:39
Thanks for chatting with us, Cory! I am curious about your impression of the Padres and their uptake of things such as analytics and all the rapsodos and other devices that exist to quantify aspects of the game. As a fan, they do not seem nearly as advanced as say the Dodgers or Rays, but you had a view from the inside.
Cory Wade
10:41
The padres are advanced as the other teams.  Almost all teams are in the game today.  but from the scouts perspective they wanted and encouraged us to scout freely and not to analytical data.  so it allowed us to marry the analytics to "old school" feel scouts have.  it creates great players and more balanced teams.
Jack
10:42
Who was your first big strike out? Like “dang, this guy is someone I watched or is a future HOF”
Cory Wade
10:44
good morning jack.  I always tried to stay pretty level headed playing the game, but my first time turning into a fan was facing chipper jones.  Like I mentioned in another post I was an avid braves fan growing up.  So facing chipper was a dream.  I was able to strike him on, which had me on cloud 9, but they i never came down and promptly gave up back to back HRs on 2 pitches to Tex and McCann.  That humbled me real quick.  but owell i struckout my favorite player growing up.
Scott
10:45
Cory, I don't really have a good question, but as someone who has battled with multiple arm injuries, your story is really inspiring. Thanks for doing this
Cory Wade
10:45
anytime scott.  Im glad my story helped you through that.  that Means a lot.  Thank you for sharing that
Yankeehawk
10:46
Hi Cory!  What was it like pitching in Yankee stadium for the first time.  Would you have done anything different?
Cory Wade
10:48
Pitching in Yankee stadium was such a rush.  That place is intense and the fans expect a lot from you.  So going on the mound the first time you are trying to make a great first impression and not mess up.  I wouldnt change that experience for anything.
Jesse Filiere
10:50
How do you feel about the potential of a standardized sticky substance for pitchers to use? With the scandal a couple seasons ago and the advent of young pitchers throwing more and more gas with less and less control it could be an interesting thing if made available to everyone to be fair across the board.
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