- 7/8/2025
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00:00His name is Landon Roop, and he's kind enough to join us right now here
00:03on Willard and Dibs on the River Islands guest line.
00:07Here he is.
00:08Landon, thank you for doing it.
00:09Nice job last night, man.
00:12Hey, guys.
00:12I appreciate it.
00:13Thank you for having me on.
00:15Looking forward to it.
00:16Thank you for doing it.
00:17And Landon, to what level are you sort of feeling solidified now
00:23as a member of this starting rotation
00:25and what that may mean for the rest of the year?
00:29Yeah.
00:30I'm feeling pretty good about it,
00:31but also I kind of like to look at it as a way of, you know,
00:35always competing for the spot, you know,
00:37just going out there every time and competing
00:41and giving it everything I have.
00:43And, you know, in this game, someone can take your spot real quick.
00:48They're just trying to keep that and keep competing.
00:52What were you able to glean from last year's four starts
00:54that helped you in the offseason get ready for being one of the guys every five days?
00:59Just confidence.
01:03You know, it felt like all year I wanted to start
01:06and I never got the opportunity just with going up and down.
01:12And then finally there at the end, I got four starts under my belt.
01:15And, you know, it just gave me confidence that I can be a starter at this level
01:18and went into the offseason knowing that and just got to work.
01:22And we're going, obviously, my changeup has gotten a lot better this year
01:27and worked on the cutter.
01:28So just going in the offseason, just knowing that I had to add some more pitches
01:34to my arsenal if I wanted to go deep in the games.
01:36Landon, I'm glad you brought up that whole process last year going up and down.
01:41And it happens.
01:42It happens to a lot of young guys.
01:43But I know it was much more a part of the Giants' culture in recent years
01:48than it has been this year.
01:50What has that meant to the guys that largely you all know
01:54who's going to be in the Major League Clubhouse most days?
01:58Yeah.
01:59And it just shows, you know, how Buster looks at things.
02:03You know, he's been a player and he knows the guys go through times
02:06where they're going to struggle and they're going to come out better
02:09on the other side of it.
02:10And honestly, I'll be honest with you, my first couple starts,
02:14I guarantee you if this was last year, I would have been sent down.
02:18So just thanks to him for believing in me
02:21and letting me work through some things and just learning at this level.
02:25But, yeah, I mean, it gives all the guys, the younger guys, confidence,
02:30knowing that if they have one bad game or two bad games,
02:33that, you know, they're not going to be sent down right away
02:36and have to fight for their way back up.
02:39It's just, I mean, this game is, you learn each day,
02:42you learn each outing, and that's what it's about.
02:46Yeah, and it's awesome to see you grow in real time, you know,
02:49every fifth day when you're out there.
02:51And it's got to be kind of neat and helpful to have a vet like Justin Verlander
02:55in the room as well.
02:56And I was just looking, when he debuted, you were six years old.
03:00So how much of Verlander do you remember and how helpful has he been?
03:05Yeah, I was very young.
03:08But I do remember watching him as I was growing up.
03:13I truly don't remember that much.
03:16But I do remember the name, and I've always known the name in baseball.
03:20And just to have him in the locker room and as a friend
03:23and just someone I can lean on in times of, you know,
03:27need when I need to know more about a situation.
03:31You know, he, for me, I lean more on Logan for pitch types
03:36and how to throw that just because we're more similar in that area.
03:41But Verlander has all the knowledge in the world about every single thing in baseball.
03:46You can ask him any question, and he's got a thought-out answer for it.
03:50So just, you know, leaning on him in situations that involve the game,
03:55like mid-game, like mentality and stuff like that is huge.
03:59And just having him around, I mean, he's a Hall of Famer who's been in the league going on 20 years.
04:04So it's really cool to get the opportunity to suit up with him
04:07and, you know, share a locker room with him.
04:10Landon Roop is joining us here on Willard and Dibs, 95-7 the game.
04:15He threw five strong last night in the Giants' 3-1 victory over the Phillies.
04:19Landon, while we're talking about future Hall of Famers,
04:22and, you know, you mentioned Buster Posey
04:24and the way he kind of runs this clubhouse.
04:26I wonder how you processed the big Devers trade from this perspective.
04:33The fact that they were willing to give up Kyle Harrison
04:36had to register with you in some sort of a way
04:40in terms of how they see your future and Birdsong's future.
04:45Is that accurate?
04:47How did that trade sort of register with you?
04:50Yeah, you know, at first I didn't really think of it that way.
04:56But, you know, Kyle's been a friend since I got with the Giants organization.
05:01And, you know, we were all getting ready for the game.
05:04I think I had just gotten out of the shower and put my clothes on
05:07and was about to go back out.
05:08And Kyle comes in the locker room crying.
05:10And my first thought was, man, he got hurt while he was warming up
05:15because, I mean, you never think somebody's going to get traded
05:17right before their start.
05:18But, I mean, it was a relief when he said, you know, he got traded
05:23because my whole thought was he was hurt.
05:25But, you know, just – I don't know.
05:31It was crazy in the time.
05:33Like I said, it was right before his start.
05:34So, I couldn't imagine what was going through his head.
05:37But he's an unreal pitcher, and I think he's only going to get better.
05:40And, you know, I wish him all the best over there.
05:43But as far as for me and Birdsong, I think it just shows, you know,
05:48the confidence they have in us to grow and be a part of this rotation
05:52and even making the rotation out of spring training.
05:56It just gave me a huge boost in confidence knowing that, you know,
06:01they believe in me and I'm able to work through some problems up here
06:05and just learn.
06:06So, yeah, it gives me a bunch of confidence going forward.
06:09So, Landon, I appreciate you bringing everybody in the clubhouse
06:12in that sort of a way.
06:14I don't know if we knew the way Kyle kind of took that news.
06:19So, he was in tears when he came in?
06:22I mean, Webby's been around for six, seven years.
06:25Robbie, 10-plus.
06:26So, just taking in all the knowledge
06:29and just watching how they go about their business.
06:31But, yeah, super excited.
06:34Landon, I think fans have a lot of questions about both you and Hayden
06:39with regard to how long you can go this season
06:42because both of you are headed for all-time highs in terms of innings pitch.
06:47So, can you take us through the entire thought process
06:50on is there an innings limit, how do you discuss this with the team,
06:55and what is the plan going forward?
06:58Yeah, that's been a popular question as of recently.
07:02But, as far as I know, we have not talked about it at all.
07:09At least it hasn't been brought up to me.
07:11So, my plan is to, you know, stay healthy, get in the training room,
07:16get in the weight room, work out, and just stay healthy
07:20and be able to get out there every fifth day
07:21and help these guys and our team get to a playoff.
07:24So, for me, it's, like I said, just staying healthy
07:29and going out there and competing
07:31and giving our team the best chance to win.
07:34What things do you do in between starts
07:36that you're hoping can really help you stretch out that innings limit
07:40and maybe keep you fresher as you get into August and September?
07:45Really just like today.
07:46I'm taking it super easy.
07:48I don't touch a baseball.
07:49I don't even go outside on the field.
07:50So, I go in, I get a full-body treatment
07:56and just kind of relax and take the day
08:00and then tomorrow I'll work out and toss the ball around
08:04and then I have a bullpen the next day.
08:06So, really just, you know, I kind of got this from Webby.
08:11He's given me a lot of tips and ways to
08:15because obviously we see it every year.
08:17He throws 200-plus innings.
08:19So, he kind of seems like he knows what he's doing.
08:24But, yeah, I got that from Webby.
08:26Just, you know, there's no need to beat your body up two times
08:30in under 24 hours.
08:31So, taking that whole next day has been really helpful for me on recovery
08:35and just being able to go out there every fifth day
08:38and try to throw five-plus.
08:43How much nicer is the full body work the day after a win
08:47as opposed to a loss?
08:47A lot better after a win.
08:53But, it's pretty good either way.
08:56But, I would definitely say
08:58mentality-wise, a lot better after a win.
09:02Well, and you might have even registered a statistical win
09:06if it hadn't been for the weird spin
09:08on that stot double that ended up going off of Wilmer Flores' leg last night.
09:13I wanted to ask you, you have such a devastating curve.
09:17The spin on that hit, do you think that that was from your curveball?
09:20I don't really know, honestly.
09:25I talked to Wilmer about it, and he said,
09:27dude, I've never seen a hop like that.
09:30Because, from my point of view, I couldn't see it.
09:33So, and when I came in the dugout, everybody was saying, like,
09:36that's the weirdest hop I've ever seen.
09:37So, it could have had something to do with that,
09:40but it also could have been just something on the field
09:43that kind of interfered with the way it hopped.
09:47But, I do remember that last Bryce Harper at bat,
09:52I threw him a curveball, and he barely tipped it and fouled it off.
09:58And, it looked like some of the, either the seams
10:02or the leather on the baseball had, like, come off,
10:06like, when it was spinning.
10:07So, I don't know if that was my curveball or just the way he hit it.
10:10But, it was pretty crazy.
10:11I've heard of people hitting the cover off the ball.
10:14I have never heard of people, like, pitching and spinning
10:17the cover off of the ball, Landon.
10:20Yeah.
10:20I don't know if it was that, but it'd be pretty cool if it was, wouldn't it?
10:24It really would.
10:25Landon Roop is with us on 95.7 The Game.
10:28Hey, how's Rafi Devers as a teammate?
10:31He's awesome.
10:33You know, just waiting on, I mean, he looked comfortable
10:37from the day he got here, and he looked happy to be here.
10:40And, he's a huge addition to this lineup.
10:43And, just really excited to have him just absolutely compete for us.
10:52And, obviously, he's going through a little struggle right now.
10:56But, like I said earlier in the call, everyone does that.
11:00And, when he comes back and gets going, it's going to really boost this lineup.
11:03And, there's no telling where we'll be able to go.
11:07Landon, we love having you.
11:08Great stuff last night.
11:09Before you go, you ready to have a little fun so we can get to know you even better
11:13and do the big finish?
11:15Oh, yeah.
11:16Let's do it.
11:16Okay.
11:17Here we go.
11:19All right.
11:20Landon Roop on the big finish.
11:22And, these are our wonderful categories put together by my partner here, Dan Dibley.
11:26You have to pick one category, okay?
11:28Your categories are either fruit roops or Carolina on my mind.
11:34Carolina on my mind.
11:39Carolina on my mind.
11:40All right.
11:41Here we go.
11:42What do you miss most about living in North Carolina?
11:48Hunting and fishing, for sure.
11:51Which do you prefer, hunting or fishing?
11:53If you had to choose one on a lazy Saturday afternoon, which one do you go with?
11:58That's hard.
11:59Is there any way I can do both?
12:00I suppose fishing essentially is hunting.
12:03You're hunting fish, right?
12:04Yeah, it's a lot of hours in the day, you know?
12:07I think if I had to choose and I couldn't do both, I would probably go hunting.
12:12It's just, for me, it's just very peaceful.
12:15I'm out in the woods and just seeing God's creation come alive.
12:18So, it's pretty awesome for me.
12:20What's the best fish that you've ever caught, Landon?
12:22Oh, I was actually in a sportsman book when I was, I think, seven years old.
12:29I may be wrong on the age there, but I caught a five-pound speckled trout down in Belhaven
12:34with my grandpa.
12:37And I think at the time, he lived in a little neighborhood.
12:42And I think at the time, it was the biggest speckled trout ever caught in that area.
12:48So, I got put in the sportsman book for it, and I still have the book at home.
12:52It's like a magazine.
12:54So, that was probably my coolest moment fishing.
12:57That's pretty awesome.
12:58A seven-year-old catching a five-pounder, that's almost like shooting your age in golf.
13:01Seriously.
13:02You get to that level.
13:04You don't come across very many five-pound speckled trout in North Carolina either.
13:08So, it was pretty cool.
13:09Especially pulled by a seven-year-old.
13:11Question number two, I know you went to UNC Wilmington, but growing up,
13:15were you a Duke household or a North Carolina household?
13:19Absolutely neither.
13:21Oh, Wake Forest in the building?
13:23We were split.
13:25So, my dad was UNC.
13:29My mom was ECU.
13:30Because my dad and mom both graduated from ECU.
13:34And my brother was also UNC.
13:37And I was NC State.
13:39I love the Wolfpack.
13:40Okay.
13:41NC State.
13:42No, that works.
13:44Okay, last one.
13:46Carolina is known for musical variety.
13:49What is your favorite type of music and favorite artist?
13:54Country music, for sure.
13:56And I think my favorite artist as of now is Cody Johnson.
14:00Okay.
14:01Like, you don't get walk-up songs when you're a pitcher, do you?
14:04No, we do.
14:06Oh, you do?
14:06You do?
14:07Just like when you're heading out for the first inning?
14:10Yes.
14:10Okay.
14:11And is that, like, what is your, what's your walk-out song?
14:15Slipping on the Blacktop by Culture Wall.
14:18Okay.
14:19We're going to have to put that in the rotation.
14:20Let's out.
14:21By the way.
14:21Yeah, you should give it a listen.
14:22That's a good one.
14:23Landon, you didn't pick Fruit Roops.
14:25But one of the, I know, one of the questions, I just, I got to know.
14:29What was your favorite sugary breakfast cereal when you were seven years old and catching fish?
14:34I'm going to have to go with Reese's Pieces.
14:40Oh, see.
14:41Okay.
14:42I mean.
14:42Reese's, whatever they are.
14:43Yeah.
14:44Yeah.
14:44No, you got it.
14:45Yeah.
14:45Those little Reese's Puffs, those little things.
14:48Yeah.
14:48Yeah, that works.
14:49My son loves those, too.
14:51Great answer.
14:52I was really hoping you'd go with Fruit Roops, but I understand.
14:54Yeah, I know.
14:55We got a little bit of both.
14:57Yeah.
14:58Hey.
14:59I'll eat any cereal.
15:01I love Captain Crunch.
15:02I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
15:05I love it all.
15:06Cereal's one of my favorites.
15:08So you're still rocking cereal now, huh?
15:12Yeah, I eat it in the clubhouse every now and then.
15:14Oh, man.
15:14And that was a solid rotation right there.
15:17You know, really good variety.
15:19I'll mix in some Fruit Loops every now and then.
15:22Okay.
15:22There you go.
15:23I think that's what we were going for.
15:24Kind of.
15:24Perfect.
15:25Hey, Landon, thank you so much for doing it.
15:27Great job last night.
15:29Keep it up and thank you.
15:31I appreciate it.
15:31Thank you all for having me.
15:32All right.
15:33There he is.
15:33That's Landon Rube.
15:34That's Landon Rube.
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