Robert Fick Transcribed – Part I

June 27, 2007

This is the top of the third inning in the broadcast booth. Bob Carpenter and Don Sutton joked that they call Robert “Keith Hernandez“. I knew that name sounded familiar! He’s the guy who ripped a “girl in the dugout” last year. I’m still not sure if they were saying “flyhog” or “flyhawk” or even what was meant by that. I’m sure someone will fill me in and I’ll feel stupid!

On April 22, 2006, Hernandez created a controversy during the broadcast of a game against the San Diego Padres. After witnessing Padres team massage therapist Kelly Calabrese giving San Diego catcher Mike Piazza a high five in the dugout after he hit a home run, Hernandez said, “Who is the girl in the dugout, with the long hair? What’s going on here? You have got to be kidding me. Only player personnel in the dugout.” After Hernandez was informed later in the broadcast that Calabrese was a club employee, he maintained his position, stating, “I won’t say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don’t belong in the dugout.” After the game, San Diego manager Bruce Bochy expressed displeasure with Hernandez’s comments.[3] Keith apologized and alluded to his words being nothing more than tomfoolery by saying, “You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there √¢‚Ǩ‚Äù always have.”

Transcription of the first half after the jump. Will get to the 2nd half of the inning later.

TRANSCRIPT:

BC: It’s a real pleasure to welcome one of our favorite guys to the booth, Robert Fick is with us. Robert, it’s great to see you buddy, we’ve been thinking about you a lot. Everything ok with the family out in California?

RF: Yessir, Bob. You know I’ve had such great support from my family, and my teammates, and Jim Bowden. Everybody’s just you know been by my side, been there for me, it’s been a tough two years for me – my mom battling cancer. Now the Good Lord’s taken her. It’s been quite a grind, but you know I feel a sense of a relief. Now I don’t have to worry about her suffering. I sure do miss her, but I know she’s in a better place and I can concentrate on baseball now.

DS: And did you feel like with this ball club it’s almost like a sanctuary? I mean the guys there just embrace every….

RF: Yeah… These guys have just been by my side. Like I said the past two years. Now Manny’s come in and you know Frank was awesome for me last year. They’ve just told me family’s number one and they told me you need to make sure that everything’s right with your mom. They gave me a chance to do that this year and last year. I have no regrets. My mom lived a good life and I’d just like to say thanks to my brothers and sisters. They brought me a lot of peace. I got to play the game and not worry about her and I knew that she was in good hands.

DS: How long before you think you’ll be ready to strap it on again?

RF: I was ready tonight. Jim wanted to give me another day and now that I’m here and that’s happened it’s you know, better for me.

BC: There’s a base hit for you from your buddy Brian Schneider.

RF: Stay hot! Stay hot!

BC: Brian’s 4 for his last 5 in this series now. He has some really intelligent at bats doesn’t he?

RF: Oh, he’s a catcher. He knows what he’s doing up there and you know, like I told somebody the other day. When the leaves turn brown, Brian Schneider’s going to hit his .260/.270 and do what he does. He’s our leader out there and you guys have seen what he’s done. NOthing against our pitchers but we’ve lost 4 of our 5 starters and we’ve done alright since that’s happened and he has a lot to do with it.

BC: Mike Bascik looking to bunt Brian over. Robert, everyone talks about that, the fact that this club has been so resilient. We walk into that clubhouse and you guys are having fun. I know you have the sense of humor that makes all of us laugh. Dmitri might be the happiest guy with a uniform on anywhere (RF laughs) And that’s a great bunt by Bascik. That’ll move the runner over. What’s the key to how things are in the clubhouse with this team?

RF: Ummm, Well, to me it all starts with Manny, you know. He knows the hand he was dealt this year. We’ve battled a lot of injuries and stuff and he’s just kept his head up and there’s no yelling or nothing. Guys don’t play the game the right way, he’s gonna say something but you know, he’s kind of leaning on guys like me, Dmitri, Schneider. Nick Johnson’s not healthy but he’s with us everyday and he plays a big role too. We’ve just stayed within ourselves – we haven’t gotten too high, gotten too low. We know what we are… oh boy

BC: Langerhans hits one down the line- it won’t be caught. It will drop and bounce into the seats. A ground rule double and because of the sacrifice bunt, the Nats get a run and lead one nothing.

RF: Good for him

BC: Give Mike Bascik a half an rbi on that. Langerhans came into this game hitting .297. It’s obvious he sees the ball well. Looked like he got a breaking ball up, let’s check out the location on this pitch. He really seemed out of sync when he got here, but Lenny’s been working with him on I believe a shorter quicker stroke – go straight to the ball.

RF: Sure, when you come to a new team you maybe try and do a little too much and you know, Rino is a hard working guy and what a good guy to have on the team. This isn’t his first rodeo. He’s been here with the Braves and he’s played in some big ball games and he has a chance to be a big time player for us.

BC: Now here’s Felipe who singled to left his first time. Buddy Carlyle gets a high strike to even the count 1-1. Now the next three hitters coming up all hit safely in the top of the 1st. Back to back to back. Lopez, Zimmerman, Young – so the Nats might be on to a big inning here in the top of the 3rd. By the way, that was rbi #13 for Langerhans as a National. Felipe takes a breaking ball. 2-1 We were thinking about Langerhans here – has Robert Fick ever been a leadoff man?

RF: Mmmmm… just on rehab assignment (laughs)

DS: What they wanted to get you some at bats?

RF: Yeah, yeah

BC: Two balls and a strike. And another take by Felipe. Now Robert this year we’ve had a little fun with you up here that you don’t even know about. We refer to you as Keith Hernandez now because you come in late to play defense. That’s been kind of an interesting thing for you and you’ve done quite well at first base. What’s it like over there coming in like that?

RF: Ah well, I just keep working hard. Any chance I can get to get in the game. Shoot, I just stay ready. I know my role on this team. I know I’m a bench player. I’m not always happy about that but I know that’s my job and I just stay ready. Shoot, that’s the way it goes.

DS: And you’re an accomplished flyhog.

RF: Keith Hernandez, huh? I like it. I like it.

BC: 3-2 and Felipe goes up the middle, runner over to third as Renteria throws him out on the close play.

RF: I got guys on the other team laughing at me for being a defensive replacement. They don’t know about the new Robert Fick over there at first base. (BC and DS laugh)

BC: Ryan Zimmerman will be next. I loved it when Don came up to the booth in Toronto and said, “We have an accomplished flyhog in left field today”. [or is that flyhawk? I didn't quite get that]

RF: Oh that’s great

BC: Well you know you gotta have fun. You’ve been around this game a long time. When you look back on your years, any one or two things really stick out as highlights for you?

RF: Well, you know I hit the last home run in Tigers Stadium…

BC: A grand slam

DS: Oooh!

RF: … in ‘99 and got a chance to play in the All-Star game in ‘02 and get a hit and playing here in Atlanta was pretty special to me. A chance to be with Andruw and Chipper and Sheffield and Javy Lopez and all those guys.

DS: You had a heck of a year too

RF: And a chance to play for Bobby who to me is priceless. What a manager! He’s one of the best to ever manage this game so a chance to be in the lockerroom with him, I learned a lot.

DS: Do you see any similarities in some of the things Manny preaches that you might have seen in Bobby?

RF: Sure, just play the game the right way. Bobby doesn’t need to say anything. Manny doesn’t need to say anything. Manny’s had some pretty good managers that he’s coached under, so…

BC: That ball’s got some carry to it. Francoeur catches it in front of the wall. Got another half inning in ya?

RF: Yes sir, yes sir.

BC: Alright, Robert Fick’s with us. He’ll stick around for a while. Langerhans gets the lead for Mike Bascik. [cut to commercial]

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Posted in Players, Washington Nationals