Braves 2B Ozzie Albies Talks NL East, Dog Rescue & Exotic Fish with Rich Eisen | Full Interview

0:00 We kick off hour number two in studio with a bonafide

0:03 big- time Major League Baseball player from the Atlanta Braves.

0:06 The best record in baseball, 26 and 12,

0:09 taking on the Dodgers in a monster early May threeame set.

0:14 Uh, and the man who leads the Atlanta Braves in hitting with a 322 average,

0:17 ladies and gentlemen, second baseman Aussie Alb is here.

0:21 Good to see you, man.

0:22 How are you?

0:22 Good to see you.

0:22 I'm doing great.

0:23 I appreciate you spending an off day in Southern

0:26 California inside and in Elsagundo television and radio studio.

0:30 I mean, let me let me start with that.

0:32 Yeah, it's off day, but you know,

0:34 you still do fun stuff on off day and enjoy the moments and I appreciate that.

0:38 Um, I appreciate all that.

0:40 So, what is clicking for your team right

0:43 now for the first six weeks of the season?

0:45 Yeah, we're playing, you know,

0:46 tremendously great baseball and we just enjoying the moment as a team.

0:50 we all together and you know have each other's

0:53 back and enjoy the game and have fun with it.

0:54 I think that's what's clicking and going great for us.

0:57 Well, obviously winning helps having fun,

0:59 but what do you think is leading to the winning?

1:02 What would you what would you point out?

1:03 I'll say the preparation.

1:04 You know, it starts with the preparation since we wake up in the morning,

1:07 we get together, you know,

1:08 we have our breakfast, we talk baseball, then we get to the field,

1:12 we do our, you know, preparation of meetings, etc.

1:14 So, I think that's what, you know,

1:16 leads you and prepares you for for a good ball game.

1:19 That comes from Walt Weiss.

1:20 Would you say it comes from definitely Wallwise and the whole

1:23 staff and all the great uh coaches

1:26 we have and all what we put together to be to be good at, you know,

1:30 competing against other teams.

1:32 Other than great form tackling,

1:33 what has Walt Weiss brought to the equation this year?

1:36 No, he's he's a leader and uh I know Walt for more than

1:40 80 years now and he always has been the same person, same guy.

1:43 He's one of the greatest human mean I've been around

1:47 and um you know if you mess around with him you will find out.

1:51 Well I just saw that or if you mess

1:54 around with any of you we'll see what happens.

1:57 Did you did you guys have fun with u your manager about about that moment

2:01 where he he was out there making sure a brawl doesn't take place by

2:06 by uh by going low.

2:07 Yes, definitely.

2:08 Yeah, definitely.

2:09 We had fun about it and uh we even made like a shirt about uh really him

2:14 in the fight and I mean you have fun

2:15 with moments like that you will never forget those and

2:18 you know he did the right thing by putting him you know so there's

2:21 a big man so yes you had to put him down before things escalate even more.

2:26 Exactly.

2:26 So who's in charge of making those shirts up?

2:29 Who I did not I don't don't know who made the shirt.

2:32 I just got got mine and I wore it.

2:34 So but somebody whoever it was knew what your size was clearly.

2:38 You know what I mean?

2:39 Yeah, they made uh they made a couple of them

2:41 and I definitely enjoy the shirt I have at home.

2:45 I think we have to get one of our What?

2:47 Were you large or what do you what do we got?

2:49 Yeah, I'm a large.

2:51 Yeah.

2:51 Well, TJ, would you wear one of those shirts?

2:53 Cuz you're a Met fan though.

2:54 Would you Where would Where do we go on that front?

2:56 Yeah.

2:56 I don't know, man.

2:57 Maybe I'll just step step aside for this one.

2:59 Okay.

3:00 No.

3:02 Yeah.

3:01 Which team do you like to beat the most?

3:04 Um, I'll definitely say the Phillies.

3:10 Okay.

3:09 And you know, it's our it's our rivalry in the in the East definitely.

3:14 And you know, every time you go play there, you want to beat those guys.

3:17 They

3:18 they have beat us in a couple years back.

3:21 So, um, I'll say that's one of the series that every time we go there,

3:27 the guys are amped up because

3:28 Is that right?

3:29 That is that's right.

3:29 Huh.

3:30 Who's the one that amps the team up the most?

3:32 like get us going.

3:34 Yes.

3:34 I mean, you know, every time we go to a city like that, everybody

3:37 start talking about it right away as soon as we done with our preparations.

3:40 Like, hey, let's beat these guys up today because But who rallies that?

3:43 Who who stirs up that in your line?

3:45 We used to have we used to have some guys on the team that used to, you know,

3:50 be be the one that started like Ozuna was always there because I mean,

3:54 he been in the league for a long time and,

3:56 you know, they always boo him and stuff like that.

3:58 They it's just his game and they just didn't you know the way

4:02 he I guess hit the ball hard against them they didn't like that.

4:05 So

4:06 I mean you always get that when you're doing great.

4:08 But who right now in your

4:09 right now I'll say it's a team it's a team thing.

4:12 No kidding.

4:13 Yes because we have new guys on the team and even Tam

4:16 they were like hey we want to we want to beat those guys.

4:18 Okay.

4:19 Um I guess what's this the third alternate uniforms or the city connects?

4:25 City connects.

4:26 Yes.

4:26 Does Chris Sale like wearing them?

4:30 I mean, I I

4:33 Are you Are you aware of Chris's history with alternate uniforms?

4:36 I I heard some stories, but uh

4:38 Well, they involve a pair of scissors.

4:40 Yeah, I heard that story before.

4:44 So, but I mean,

4:45 that hasn't that hasn't

4:46 it hasn't No, it hasn't got there with the with the new Citicon X we got.

4:50 I mean, they purifier.

4:51 I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure he likes them.

4:53 Well, my my son knows because again,

4:55 I I think that Major League Baseball's created City

4:58 Connects not for the team to connect with the city,

5:00 but for the for the uh the league the uh the league to connect with my wallet,

5:07 you know, like and I tell that to my 15-year-old

5:10 who's a diehard baseball fan all the time.

5:12 So, he kind of shows me these City Connects to try and trigger me.

5:15 The ones though from the Braves, they they look old school.

5:18 Like, they look really old school.

5:20 The Dale Murphy.

5:21 Yeah, the Dale Murphy.

5:22 Yeah, they they actually really cool and I like wearing them.

5:25 When we had I think we had a week early in the season

5:29 where we wore for like three straight days, I enjoyed it.

5:32 It was fun.

5:33 Okay.

5:33 Are you superstitious like that that if you win in a uniform,

5:36 you want to keep wearing it or no?

5:37 I mean, if something is going right, I feel like we should keep rocking it.

5:42 Okay.

5:41 Like especially on the road, if we were we were gray and we we doing great,

5:46 I I guess we should keep wearing gray and keep doing great, you know?

5:48 So, we'll keep um I'll just I'll just tell you this right now.

5:52 Uh if you go on a winning streak after this program,

5:56 you know, got to keep it going.

5:58 Yeah.

5:58 This is the first of many appearances of Aussie Alb's here on the Richie.

6:01 There's days with Aussie.

6:02 Give him his own cheer.

6:03 There's days with Aussie.

6:04 That's right.

6:05 I kind of like it.

6:06 Yeah.

6:06 Sarah Tiana of Women's Sports Now fame,

6:08 as a matter of fact, is there's the Yeah, we're off camera.

6:11 Beautiful.

6:12 Beautiful.

6:12 And it's yours.

6:13 It's yours, which means uh get ready for a Sharpie to be put in there.

6:16 No problem.

6:17 No problem.

6:18 All right.

6:18 So, let's get to the Azie Alb's Foundation.

6:22 Uh because again, uh my wife Susie Schuster,

6:25 who's also on Women's Sports Now with Sarah and yours truly,

6:29 we are massive dog rescue people and clearly you are as well.

6:34 Um tell me why why is the foundation about dog rescue?

6:39 And I give you the floor on that.

6:41 Yeah.

6:41 So, we me and my wife we are

6:44 What's your wife's name?

6:46 Andrea.

6:46 Okay.

6:46 We are dog lover.

6:50 Okay.

6:49 And we have eight dogs that we adopted ourselves.

6:53 Eight.

6:52 Eight.

6:53 Yes.

6:53 That's at the house.

6:54 Putting you to shame.

6:56 You're two looks weak.

6:59 Careful.

6:59 Don't put anything in Suz's behind on that.

7:02 He's three, but eight.

7:04 Eight of them.

7:05 Yes.

7:05 They all adopted.

7:06 Uh she actually posted a video a couple days about

7:09 uh couple days ago about all of them we have.

7:13 And we even have we babysitting one right now named called Bach.

7:17 Okay.

7:18 Trying to find him.

7:19 Joe Bach.

7:20 I don't think it's after Joe Bach.

7:22 It's a different one.

7:23 We're trying to find him a home.

7:24 And we we sat together and because we dog lovers,

7:28 we decide to do something for the city of Atlanta.

7:30 And we want to we wanted to give back in the way of rehoming dogs.

7:34 We we rehoming over we have rehomed over 100 dogs just last year.

7:39 And

7:40 bless you and your wife doing Yeah.

7:41 doing a great job about it and we just, you know,

7:43 we want to start a a program where we

7:46 can help the community of Atlanta and, you know,

7:48 we don't want to see the dogs on the street and even when there's

7:51 a dog in the shelter for more than 100 days and it never gets adopted,

7:55 euthanized, we want to give them a chance again before they get euthanized.

7:58 Exactly.

7:58 So,

7:59 that's what the idea we had together and we want to, you know,

8:03 we want to keep it going and definitely looking

8:06 to build a facility full-time and all that stuff.

8:08 And when you say a facility,

8:10 you mean where dogs can just roam free and and be rescued and or homed there?

8:15 Be home there.

8:16 Yes.

8:17 Somebody maybe gives them a forever home.

8:18 Yes.

8:18 That's the goal that we are trying to get to right now.

8:21 And so, uh, aziealesfoundation.org to get funds for that.

8:27 Exactly.

8:27 You can count on from me and Susie.

8:29 We appreciate that a lot.

8:30 Um, wow, that is so cool.

8:32 It's going to help when way more dogs in the city of Atlanta.

8:36 And you know, even if there's dogs outside of Atlanta,

8:39 we still if we have an opportunity to help them,

8:42 you know, rehome it, whatever the case might be,

8:44 we we actually pull for it and go for it.

8:46 Yeah.

8:46 Adopt, don't shop.

8:48 Um and and the um it's just a beautiful idea and not enough folks, you know,

8:54 obviously there's a lot going on in the world

8:55 that needs uh help and certainly some funds put towards it.

8:59 Um this is a beautiful idea and I I think it's pretty cool, man.

9:02 Thank you for doing that.

9:03 Aussie album foundation.org or for that.

9:06 Now, where did your love for exotic fish come from?

9:09 I imagine from Curisal, growing up in in Curis.

9:12 Yeah.

9:12 So, growing up in Curisal,

9:14 my grandfather had six kois that we used to have in in a koi smaller koi pond.

9:21 Yes.

9:20 Uh in the in the neighborhood and at our house,

9:24 he had his six special ones that he always, you know, fed.

9:28 Every morning, drinks his coffee, watching them, feed them, change water.

9:32 Yes.

9:32 So, I grew up since I was like 40 years old watching those fishes till one day.

9:38 I don't remember exactly what happened, but they all passed at the same time.

9:41 I think a new crew, I don't remember exactly what happened.

9:44 Okay.

9:45 So, I told my wife, hey, when there is a chance that I can do a koi pond,

9:49 I will definitely want to do it because of bringing

9:52 back the tradition that how I grew up in Curus.

9:54 So,

9:55 that's why I I'm all over fish and I'm all about fish now.

9:59 And I have I think it's close to just in koi in general.

10:03 I have like a 100 kois at the house now.

10:06 So did you say you know hey growing up in curious how one day I'm going to be

10:09 a big time major league baseball player so I can have a sixft tank in my garage.

10:14 Exotic cars and exotic fish the same garage.

10:17 I think that was the goal that pushed me to keep playing hard too.

10:21 I'll check the box Aussie.

10:22 I mean looks like you stuck the landing on that.

10:25 And then that video.

10:26 Is this a hot tub you've got going on with What is this?

10:29 So, this is my koi pond actually.

10:31 And so, you're just you swim in your koi pond.

10:33 I'm swimming in my koi pond and then

10:34 you see the fish jumping behind me right there.

10:37 My gosh.

10:38 Yeah.

10:39 So, that's my koi pond.

10:40 Yeah, that's my koi pond.

10:41 And it was snowing that day.

10:43 And I was like, why not just jump in a cold uh

10:48 koi pond and then go straight to my hot tub after that?

10:50 That's my cold punch of the day.

10:54 So, so this is your in there.

10:56 That's my koi pond in the backyard that I

10:58 just jump in when it was snowing in Atlanta.

11:00 Why not?

11:01 There's what, 40, 50?

11:03 How many are in there?

11:04 And that koi pon is 100.

11:05 That's the one with 100.

11:06 That's the 100.

11:07 That's the Chris.

11:08 It's the 100 koi pond.

11:10 I'll keep up.

11:10 You're so ignorant, Chris.

11:12 Jeez.

11:12 Listen to when he talks.

11:14 It's 100.

11:15 It doesn't look It doesn't seem like there's 100,

11:17 but we did a full deep clean and I count them one by one.

11:23 And I remember I had like 92 and I went back

11:25 and got eight more because I wanted to get to 100.

11:28 Might as well.

11:29 And it's like enough, enough.

11:30 I'm like no, I I need I want to get 100 coins.

11:32 Yeah, keep it.

11:32 Yeah, it makes sense to me.

11:34 The rare case for a baseball player being happy to hit 100.

11:41 All right, now let's put this to the test.

11:43 Aussie Alvies, we have pulled or Chris did on behalf of the Rich Eisen Show.

11:48 Uh oh, here we go.

11:49 Six exotic fish.

11:52 Photographs of six exotic fish.

11:54 We're going to see if you can

11:56 name them.

11:57 Name name that fish with Aussie Albus.

11:59 All right.

11:59 Okay.

12:00 Here we go.

12:00 Let's do it.

12:01 We don't have fish music, do we?

12:03 Forget it.

12:03 Don't worry about it.

12:04 Let's do it.

12:06 By the way, I've never asked that of Jake before.

12:08 We have fish music.

12:10 Don't worry about it.

12:11 That's a first.

12:12 Um, all right.

12:12 Here we go.

12:13 Put up the the photograph.

12:15 What What fish is this?

12:17 Uh, Aussie Alb's.

12:18 Do we know what this fish is?

12:20 Yes.

12:20 What is it?

12:21 So, funny story about this fish.

12:23 Oh, wow.

12:24 Oh, he's got a story.

12:25 Story.

12:26 I didn't expect a fish story.

12:27 It's like a caught a fish.

12:29 Oh, please.

12:30 Okay.

12:30 So, I I wanted to uh own this fish before.

12:34 My friend had my friend, my good friend Taylor,

12:37 he actually bought some of these fishes.

12:41 Mhm.

12:40 They got to his fish tank and they were like, "Oh,

12:42 they took they had delays and I think they're all

12:45 dead." So he threw them in the tank cuz right away

12:48 they all lay on the bottom.

12:51 And the next day he woke up and they were all swimming.

12:55 Hey, so what a

12:56 believe it or not, most people say Yeah, most people say they are um sensitive.

13:02 Okay.

13:01 But most of my fish

13:04 keepers out there that I chat with and have connection with, they

13:08 keep them with exotic fishes and all that and they uh

13:11 So what's the name of this fish?

13:12 They definitely survive.

13:13 What's the name of this fish?

13:14 This fish is the It's not um Oh my god.

13:17 You put me in the

13:18 Yeah, I know.

13:19 That's what it's about.

13:20 Um I never own one.

13:22 I wanted to own one, but I forgot the name.

13:24 Um give me one second.

13:25 I'll get it for you.

13:26 You got it, Aussie.

13:26 I don't want to.

13:27 Ladies and gentlemen, Aussie just called for time.

13:29 It's the fish clock is starting.

13:31 Hey,

13:31 the fish clock is the the clock.

13:33 I'll put the clock on time.

13:34 All right.

13:34 Yeah.

13:34 Yeah.

13:35 You get one one disengagement allowed.

13:39 Uh there you go.

13:40 I'm trying to get to the name now.

13:42 I'll give you a hint.

13:43 It's It's also the name of something you

13:45 throw in the Olympics in track and field.

13:50 Okay.

13:50 I don't even know that, but I know the name.

13:51 I We just blind spot.

13:53 Um I'm I'm I'm Can we come back to it?

13:55 Let's put a pin in it.

13:56 Come back.

13:56 Come back to it.

13:57 Next fish.

13:58 I'm I'm We had You had a story, but not a name.

14:01 Yeah, that's amazing.

14:01 Because I forgot the name.

14:03 This is arowana.

14:04 Lucky fish.

14:05 Arana.

14:05 Okay, hold on a minute.

14:06 Hold on a minute.

14:07 The call is confirmed.

14:09 I didn't tap my helmet.

14:10 I got to tap my helmet first.

14:12 Okay, call is confirmed.

14:15 All right, very good.

14:16 Uh, next up.

14:17 Next up, here we go.

14:19 What's this?

14:20 This is salt water for sure.

14:23 Y I never own a saltwater tank yet.

14:24 I will say Oh my god, this looks like a

14:33 It's a two-word name.

14:36 Y, it does look like a Take a guess.

14:39 It looks like poison.

14:40 H.

14:41 Let's see.

14:41 Hold on a minute.

14:42 Let's check.

14:42 Let's check to see if uh if we got it or not.

14:45 I just absed it.

14:46 I will I will say this is close to a That's all right.

14:54 Yeah.

14:54 Made famous by the movie Deuce Bigalow.

14:56 Male jigalow.

14:59 Okay.

14:58 Yeah, it looks like a lion fish.

15:02 Yeah.

15:02 Oh, hold on a minute.

15:03 Let's check.

15:04 Let me tap my head.

15:04 It does look like a lion.

15:05 Where do we got it?

15:06 Is it Yeah.

15:08 Let's go.

15:08 It's a clear finan fish.

15:11 Let's go.

15:11 I didn't mean to tap my helmet.

15:12 That's just the only way we can check on your answer.

15:14 All right, we got three more fish.

15:16 Pop up the next one.

15:17 Here we go.

15:18 Uh, this next fish.

15:19 What is this fish?

15:20 Flower horn.

15:21 Flower horn.

15:22 Let me hold a minute.

15:23 Let me

15:23 I got it already.

15:24 I'm tapping my Hold on a minute.

15:25 Let's check Let's check it out.

15:27 Yeah.

15:31 Y kick lid.

15:32 Okay.

15:32 Very It's flower horn and death fish is

15:35 actually really like it's a really bean fish.

15:38 If you put anything in the tank with him,

15:40 it might like it might fight him and try to kill him.

15:43 Hopefully you're not jumping in it.

15:44 Yeah.

15:44 Okay.

15:45 Not to me, but a different fish.

15:46 99 other fish.

15:48 All right.

15:49 Next one.

15:49 Next one.

15:50 We got two more.

15:52 Ah.

15:52 Oh my god damn.

15:53 You put me in a good spot.

15:54 Saw water.

15:55 Okay.

15:56 This is uh Talk it out.

15:58 Talk it out.

15:59 I almost went saltwater just to own one.

16:02 Is it a emperor?

16:03 No, no, no, no.

16:07 Oh my god.

16:08 It's actually a fish that most saltwater hobby people have.

16:12 I'm not big into salt water.

16:14 I'll give you a quick hint.

16:15 Quick hint.

16:15 You look up to the heavens and you see who's up in the

16:18 angel fish.

16:19 That's what it is.

16:20 Tap the helmet.

16:21 Okay.

16:21 Tap the helmet

16:22 and there it is again.

16:24 Because there's an angel fish in salt water

16:26 and there's an angel fish in fresh water.

16:28 So there you go.

16:29 Good to know.

16:30 Chris, write that down.

16:31 Write that down.

16:32 All right, write it down.

16:32 You'll have for the next time.

16:34 Last one.

16:35 Last one.

16:35 Aussie albies.

16:36 Who?

16:36 What?

16:36 What is this fish?

16:38 That's a peacock.

16:38 That's one one of my favorite fish.

16:40 Peacock bass.

16:41 Peacock bass fish down the middle.

16:45 Call confirmed.

16:46 Do you want to go back to the first one?

16:47 Yes.

16:47 100%.

16:48 But I'm still Oh my god.

16:51 You know what?

16:51 You know what's so funny about this?

16:53 Back to go back to the first one.

16:55 And it's funny is that you had a full story

16:57 that started and I can't get the name and I can't

17:02 and I can't get the name.

17:03 Um my good friend Caveman that has caveman aquatics.

17:08 Uh

17:09 do you want to phone a friend?

17:11 He actually owns this.

17:13 He actually used to own this fish with the arowanas.

17:16 He actually donated to me.

17:17 That's why I'm trying to get to the name and I can't get to it.

17:20 Um, no, it's it's uh it's not angel.

17:25 Definitely not.

17:26 No, it's not.

17:27 The angel has like the big

17:28 It's a one word, six letters.

17:30 Starts with a D.

17:34 Starts with a D.

17:35 Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

17:37 Oh my god.

17:38 Don't give up.

17:38 This is why Aussie Alb is No, I'm not going to give up.

17:41 He's hitting number 300.

17:42 Do we have a pitch clock?

17:44 He's already got one disengagement.

17:47 Here we go.

17:48 Mound visit.

17:49 All right.

17:49 Do you want me to just tell you what it is?

17:51 Why don't you just tell me then?

17:52 One more letter.

17:53 D I D disc.

17:55 Oh my god.

17:55 Discus fish.

17:56 Oh, can How can I forget that?

17:58 Let's tap the helmet.

17:59 Is it I ran out of time.

18:00 That's a strike on me.

18:01 That's a strike on me.

18:02 I'll just put up the other one since we already had it prepared.

18:04 Smitch put it up the other one.

18:06 Oh, there's another one.

18:06 No, no, no.

18:07 It's just It's the other ABS we had.

18:12 Oh, how can I forget that this there?

18:14 Yeah, I chase all over.

18:16 How How are you with the ABS?

18:17 Do you like it?

18:18 Um, I love it.

18:19 I actually love it.

18:20 I had my first uh actually missed the other day to be honest two days ago.

18:24 I thought I walked but it was like a little bit in the zone so I punch out.

18:29 But I feel I felt like I needed to do it

18:31 because it was like the sixth inning tie game and Olsson,

18:35 one of our best hitter on the team was coming behind me.

18:37 So I was like, if I get to first, yeah, he he can do something special here.

18:41 Either a 4-2 game or a 3-2 game.

18:43 So I tapped my helmet, but I was wrong for the first time.

18:46 But so, but you've gotten every other ones right.

18:48 Yes, I did.

18:50 Yep.

18:50 You're a uh thanks for coming on here.

18:53 Uh congratulations on everything going on so far.

18:56 Obviously, there's a lot more baseball to be played,

18:58 but uh the Braves are crushing it.

19:00 All the Braves fans, um love watching what's happening right now.

19:04 Azie Alb'sfoundation.org, please give whatever you can.

19:09 and let's save more more dogs uh in the streets of Atlanta

19:13 and give them a better life and save their lives in certain cases.

19:16 Bless you for doing that and thanks for coming on here.

19:19 100%.

19:19 Thank you.

19:19 I got I got a question for you before I go though.

19:21 Oh, sure.

19:22 Okay.

19:22 Sure.

19:23 Uh yeah.

19:23 Can you teach me how to uh run the 40 yard?

19:26 Oh, of course.

19:29 Yes.

19:29 I need it.

19:29 I need it because I need I need

19:31 a couple more more stolen bases right here this year.

19:33 Well, Azie, I hate to tell you, um,

19:36 this entire time I'm the guy in that full body suit running on the, uh,

19:39 running running the, uh, the 40.

19:42 Yeah, I've been I've been the one running on the, uh,

19:44 on the, uh, morning track this entire time.

19:48 You're the freeze.

19:49 I'm the freeze.

19:51 You mean I've just revealed it's been my It's been my secret this entire time.

19:56 No one knew.

19:57 I'm the freeze.

20:01 Run.

20:01 Tell that.

20:02 Tell everybody.

20:03 You bet.

20:03 Hey, you made it all the way to the end.

20:05 Thanks for that.