Mark Shapiro

You know, let's get let's get started.

But it was a good.

opportunity to reflect and appreciate and really appreciate the fans and the players have a chance to do that and i think it was part of turning the page um and i think it's been a balance like that's that's the fact like there is a piece and part of last year that will always be part of this team and this group of guys which is largely the same and yet the nature of baseball with 162

ahead and how hard that journey is, particularly in the division we're in, we can't just run it back.

That's a popular fan refrain, but it just doesn't work.

This has to be organic.

Our guys have to take the good part of last year, what it means to be a good teammate like O-Dog was for you, what it means to be a good teammate.

What it means to be a good teammate, you know, and how much they care about each other.

And you could see that in the dugout from Kaz's home run to the way, you know, Gause and Cease and Scherzer were on the top rail cheering on Lauer yesterday.

You can just see it.

These guys care about each other and are pulling for each other.

to the toughness and resilience that it requires to handle what will come.

And I promise you, we're coming at a good moment right now, but there will be tough times.

That's the nature of 162 games.

I was trying to make a joke at my own expense.

I'd like to think that that is a longstanding effort to identify the right players, acquire the right players, develop them by rewarding certain attributes and values.

And some of it's just...

You know, we're fortunate to have guys that legitimately show joy playing the game.

You know, Vladdy, as our best player, you know, comes out there with so much joy.

Ernie Clement wrote an incredible article, you know, talks about just the joy he tries to bring to the field.