We’re back with another round of Behind Bronx Pinstripes with Recap Machine, Ryan Nakada. We put Ryan under the microscope to get a look at how the Machine is able to recap almost 200 games every season. Let’s pull back the curtain and go Behind Bronx Pinstripes.
JM- How did you get involved with BP and what is your current role?
RN- First things first, I am the go-to guy for the recaps of all games, exhibition, season or postseason. How I got involved was a simple case of social media putting opportunity in front of me. I think it has been four years now, I was doing game recaps on my own website. So when I saw that there was an up-and-coming “NYYUniverse” on Twitter looking for “writers with a passion for all things Yankees baseball” if I remember it correctly; I showed what I was doing and just like that I joined on and we are where we are now.
JM- You’re nicknamed “The Machine” by the BP fam for your ability to watch and log every game.. how do you do it?
RN- I take pride in BronxPinstripes and the only way we can continue growing and flourishing, as one of the very best Yankees blogs, is to put the best material as possible. When I was given the responsibility for 162 regular season games, 20-30 spring training games and all postseason games, that is the core of any Yankees news- without those games written about, how will the site be taken seriously? Also, it doesn’t hurt that I love all things baseball, especially the Yankees.
JM- We’re happy to have you tackling the grueling schedule, no one better for the job! It was started on the podcast, but what is your “Walk Up” song coming up to the plate?
RN- Whenever I hear walk-up songs, the wrestling fan in me sees the music and the entrance on the big screen, crowd gets popped and all hyped. I’ll tap into that wrestling side of me, The Usos “So Close Now” is one of my favorites these days. Can’t help but have a little swagger when that music is on blast.
JM- As a fellow wrestling fan, I’m happy you went there! Who is your favorite Yankee of All-Time? Your favorite NON Yankee? If there was one player in the history of baseball that you would want to see play- past or present, who is it?
RN- My favorite Yankee, and probably the main reason I became a baseball fan, is Derek Jeter. The way he plays, the way he conducts himself, the demeanor, the winning, what can you hate about the guy?
My favorite current non-Yankee is Mike Trout. Maybe I like him a little less after all the defense he played against us but he has done just about everything the right way since he made it to The Show, much like Jeter, he just lacks the championships.
There’s so many players in the history of baseball but the one guy I wish I got to see play more baseball is Bo Jackson. When you see the highlights of this guy on the baseball field, it literally looks surreal. Like, a guy his size running like he does, hitting like he does and running down fly balls like he does, is that even real?
JM- You’re at the Stadium for a game, what’s your go-to drink/food order?
RN-Classics of course, beer and a hot dog! Mustard on it, if it won’t keep me from missing a play and putting it in the scorebook.
JM- What is your most memorable moment sitting in Yankee Stadium?
RN- Sadly it was not in a win but this year’s just under 7 hours of 19 innings between the Red Sox and the Yankees early in the 2015 season is going to be hard to forget. Game-tying home runs on two separate occasions, lights going out, phones going on. What a game. Can finally check off “marathon baseball game” on my baseball bucket list.
JM- If you were on the Yankees, what position would you be playing?
RN- Well, I play third base with friends so we’ll go with the hot corner.
JM- Since you’re the new Yankees third baseman, what is Sterling’s homerun call for your first long fly?
RN- “Ryan…Na-ka-da ball outta here!”…actually sounds like something he’d do, right? Haha.
JM- When you aren’t watching the Yankees, what are you most likely doing?
RN- I’m a big fan of games, mobile, video, board, drinking, mix of a few…you name it.
JM- I’m asking everyone, so what is your Top 3 baseball movie list?
RN- Trouble with the Curve, Major League, and The Sandlot…not necessarily in that order, of course.
JM- What is your dream vacation spot, or your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
RN- My dream vacation is a road trip to every ballpark in the continent. (Bonus answer: If I win the lottery, I want to see every ballpark in the world.)
JM- Who is your favorite “non-Yankee”/ “non-baseball” Twitter profile to follow?
RN- That is a really difficult question. I like to follow people pursuing dreams and never letting setbacks, bumps or time get in their way. Whether it be wrestlers in WWE that just truly love what they’re doing, that are making it doing what they love or musicians, like Lil Crazed, creating their own music that they are so proud of and are proud to have others supporting them. The people that I can relate to in some wacky way I twist it to suit me.
JM- If you could break one record in baseball what would it be?
RN- I’m the Recap Machine, let’s go for the Iron Man’s record! 2,633, I’m coming for you! Haha.
JM- We shouldn’t be surprised by that answer! Now that you have set the record for most consecutive games played, what big moment in sports would you rather conquer: Hitting a walk-off HR in the 9th of the 7th game of the World Series, Scoring the winning TD in the Super Bowl, Hitting a winning three in game 7 of the NBA Finals, Scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 7 in the Stanley Cup, Winning an Olympic Gold or Winning the Masters?
RN- Walk-off home run in Game 7 of course! Best sport in the world, nowhere I would rather be.
There you have it folks, an inside look at what makes Ryan Nakada the Recap Machine. Make sure to follow him on Twitter @adakannayr for all Yankee game info, wrestling hot takes and more!
Stay tuned for the next Behind Bronx Pinstripes when we go one on one with the BP Instagram maven, Brian Capozzi.
