Reynolds Players to watch: Q Kimbrel
When you think of Wholesomeness, you think on Q, they guy who changed the animosity if this league by just saying "Hi".
So back in the studio I sat with him.
Reynolds: Tell me about your beginnings in this league?
Q: it was a warm evening in November, in the Krimbrel household, Craig was home for the offseason. I had a huge passion for baseball, even though my talents lay elsewhere, mainly in the water. I ran upon Charlie Scott one day at a meet, who gave me a card to his agency. I instilled myself in the discord, and Charlie got me some offers. Oakland offered me a job as a backup, and Houston offered me the possibility as a platoon. I decided to go to Houston. Mind you, I came in as a catcher. When the expansion draft got announced, I requested Wilbur grant me release. He did, and I entered the draft as a Center Fielder. I ended up getting a timely text from Jonathan Park, GM of the newly formed San Francisco Giants, that he had selected me in the third round of the draft. He let me know that I'd be a big part of the franchise moving forward.
R: And do you feel he kept his promise?
Q: Park held his end of the bargain tenfold. After a few sessions, in which I came out red hot to the tune of a .600 average, Park set me up in the leadoff spot from then on out. Park had also made a bunch of moves that turned out to help us, with the Uridge-Tuzero trade, signing Madhavapeddy, and getting us a good draft with other bats like Birne, Andropov(who got snubbed), and Oxlittle. Mudflap has also assisted him and has grown into a huge clubhouse presence for us, and I think we wouldn't be where we are now if we didn't have those two leading the way.
R: Do you feel that you're like a clubhouse leader? Or you just try to do your thing?
Q: Our clubhouse is very open minded. We don't have one true leader (Mudflap basically being part of management at this point), but mostly our clubhouse is Picov, Birne, Tuzero, and I. We all stick to our own ideas, occasionally asking for input on high-leverage swings. We let Peters and Madhavapeddy work their own magic for the most part.
R: So I see that you guys are a really relaxed team with a really chill vibe and it seems to be working out thus far.
What do you think is this team biggest strength?
Q: We have great chemistry. We all hype each other up whenever we get on base, or when Peters or Madhavapeddy are able to retire a side in order. I think our 1-4 hitters (Myself, Birne, Picov, Tuzero) are all able to consistently reach base, and we see flashes of greatness out of the rest of the lineup pretty consistently. Take this past session, for example. Ox hit a solo shot for us that kept us in the ballgame.
Anything lower than a playoff run would be a little disappointing to a squad like us. We all know what we need to do each game to produce and get a W up on that scoreboard.
R: Yea you guys seem all around great guys
Nice to have y'all around, now tell me
How this wholesomeness of yours did came out? (Laughs)
Q: Haha, I've always valued a friendly face to say hi to me each and every day, so I figured, now that I'm in the league, I'd end up being a good role model to help out any rookies coming in(including my fellow rookies from the draft), and possibly helping any veterans or GMs with their approaches. A player will be a lot closer to your side if you come off as a friendly personality.
R: it's amazing seeing how everyone it's on the discord chilling doing their thing and you suddenly say hi and everyone turns to say hi back to you
Do you think that you have influenced this league in that aspect? To be more wholesome?
Q: I like to think I've improved the morale of the league overall. I feel I bring out a lot more faces, and I can confidently say that I've made some great friendships that started with just a friendly "hi". I've gotten to see lots of faces we normally wouldn't see around here, and I think I've influenced some of the other rookies to carry themselves with this dignity as well.
R: You certainly did
Now, here comes the ASG and they INT vs. USA game
What are your expectations for this upcoming session that is the ASG one?
Q: As of now, I am going to be the starting CF for the International squad, with my Italian roots. I hope to go out there and rep both San Francisco and Italia well. As for the ASG, I want to see Peters go out and pitch a couple perfect innings. Dude deserves it more than anyone else. That would make up for Picov being snubbed.
R: Will you speak some Italian for us in the INT vs. USA game?
Q: Unfortunately no, I'm a few generations removed, but maybe I could work something up to look forward to.
R: We'll see.
So.
Some commentators (Not saying names) went on air on MLR tonight saying that the USA pitching will crush International batting.
So I kind of want you to go on air saying why they are wrong.
Q: All I have to say to that is this:
We've got a KOTD, an All Star, the biggest Snub out of anyone, and someone who was hitting .600 through the first 4 sessions. Plus, let's be real: We all know that announcers say random things for hot takes as click bait.
R: So you're basically saying that people should totally stop watching MLR tonight and come here for the sick hot takes and memes? (Laughs)
Q: Well, I wouldn't be able to say that (I was just on, after all), but if I can homer with a meme, these articles are the way to go
R: Hahaha
We're now on a studio set
I'm trying to be the Jimmy Kimmel of this league
Would you say in all your wholesomeness if I'm doing a good job or no?
Q: I mean, the laughing is there, we may just need to work on the corny humor
Hahahahaha.
R: hahahahaha thanks for your time man.
Q: Thanks for having me.
Q post a slash of .350/.458/.550 in 8 games with 24 PA, and his team, the fake san Francisco giants are on top of their division, we hope to see Q perform in playoffs with his team because he's now, a player to watch.