My 2nd Interview with Devante Lacy

My 2nd interview went very smooth. Devante Lacy, an outfielder for the Johnson City Cardinals, was kind enough to interview with me for 14 minutes today via phone call. He was very nice and I enjoyed interviewing him. Here we go!
Question #1
Who is the toughest team you will face this year?

Answer: The Kingsport Mets, they know us really well and they've seen us in spring training so they already have a scouting report on our team.

Question #2
What are your biggest fears when you are up to the plate?

Answer: That I get injured again. I want to play a full season so I can contribute as much as I can to this team.

Question #3
Where and when was your first home run?

Answer: It was in spring training. We were playing in Jupiter, Florida and we were playing the Marlins. The pitcher threw an inside two-seam fastball and I knew as soon as I hit it, it was gone. The ball was a line drive to centerfield and I thought that it would hit the top of the fence. SIDE NOTE: I asked him if he got the ball back (He said no, some kid took it, and he grabbed a ball and wrote his name on it).

Question #4
How do you change your approach against a sidearm or a submarine pitcher?

Answer: I really don't change my approach when I'm up to the plate. I have the same approach with a pitcher that pitches over the top. I wait back until the ball crosses and until it gets deep in the strike zone and then I make contact and connect.

Question #5
What are some of your baseball related "pet-peeves"?

Answer: Not really that I know of... Well when I was in track back in high school, I put all my markings and stuff on my left side of my body. I pull up my sock on the left side of my body and it's just what I've done since Little League.

Question #6
Do you wear batting gloves when you are hitting and when you are fielding?

Answer: Only when I'm hitting.

Question #7
What is the biggest stereotype about minor leaguers that most fans perceive?

Answer:  That people think we are a bunch of gangbeaters. We come in and work hard like everybody else and we also take it one day at a time like everyone else.

Question #8
An interesting fact about you is......?

Answer: That I'm a huge skater fan. I go skating a lot on the weekends.

Question #9
Your favorite pro team is...?

Answer: I gotta go with the Cardinals.

Question #10
What are your individual goals?

Answer: I want to go out and be the best that I can be and contribute as much as I can to the Cardinals.

Question #11
What is the coolest name in minor league baseball besides your own?

Answer: The Danville Braves.

Question #12
When do you believe you'll be up contributing in the Majors?

Answer: I'm not sure on that. I want to take each day here in the Minors one day at a time.

Question #13
What do you plan to do after baseball?

Answer: I plan on working in my dad's construction & electricity company after baseball.

Question #14
Were you a single or dual sport athlete?

Answer: A dual sport athlete. I participated in football and track (besides baseball).

Question #15
Who influenced you growing up?

Answer: I admired my parents a lot. My dad was always there to help us and my mom always put the food out on the table for us and helped us a lot with our homework and problems.

Question #16
Did you ever qualify for the summer Olympics in track?

Answer: Haha no it was just for the workout.

Question #17
Who did you play under at Cedar Valley?

Answer: I think it was a guy by the name of Robert Dally.

Question #18
How did you get injured?

Answer: The first time I was in batting practice and a teammate hit me with a bat in the genitals. The second time I was working out and I tore an AC joint in my shoulder.  My plan for this year is that I play a full healthy season.

Question #19
How fast can you run?

Answer: I think I could run a 4.4 second 40 yard dash time.

Question #20
Do you live with a host family or do you sublet an apartment?

Answer: I live with a host family.

1.    

My First Interview with Joe Ausanio- Bowler, Wrestler or Pitcher?

My first sports interview went very well. Joe Ausanio, former relief pitcher for the New York Yankees and current Director of Baseball Communications for the Hudson Valley Renegades  gave me an awesome 13 minutes over the phone to interview him. Without further ado, let the recap begin!

Interview w/Joe Ausanio:

Question #1:

What baseball player did you look up to in the Majors growing up?

Answer: Fred Lynn, Boston Red Sox CF. 

Question #2

How close were you to sign with the Atlanta Braves in 1984?

Answer: Not very close, I wasn't ready yet. I wanted to go to college and get a degree before I went pro.

Question #3

A total of 18 pitchers have gotten Tommy John surgery this year- what are your thoughts on that?

Answer: I'm not really sure on that, Charlie. Most of these players are very quick to go under the "knife" It could be because they are quick to get surgery. I'm honestly not sure.

Question #4

What pitches could you throw and who was the most intimidating hitter you faced?

Answer: I threw a split-fingered fastball and sometimes mix in a slider. I was never really intimidated by any batter, but Frank Thomas was a huge presence at the plate. He was a monster.

Question #5

How was it like playing for Buck Showalter?

Answer: He was a very fair manager, he was a numbers guy. He was always straight up with you, honest manager.

Question #6

Some interesting facts about you are....?

Answer: Well I could've been a professional bowler. I used to work at a bowling alley and I used to bowl 100 games a week. SIDE NOTE: I asked him if he every bowled a perfect game before (Oh yes he said) I also was a wrestling tag-team partner with WWE wrestler Gold Dust. SIDE NOTE: I asked him if 90% of WWE was fake (He said yes they were presented with a script, but the pain was real)

Question #7

What is one stereotype about Major League pitchers that most fans perceive?

Answer: That pitchers aren't good athletes. Some pitchers could be basketball players, football players, etc.

Question #8

Favorite food to eat in the Majors...?

Answer: You know Charlie I used to get into trouble for this a lot, but I loved McDonalds. I really liked Big Macs, they were just so good.

Question #9

Who did you play under at Jacksonville University?

Answer: Tom Bradley, former pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. SIDE NOTE: Bradley was the person that gave Goose Gossage the nickname "Goose". Bradley called him that, because whenever Gossage was on the mound, he always saw "Goose Eggs" on the board.

Question #10

How long did you play with the Mets for?

Answer: Less then a year, then I signed with the Rockies until the tailend of 1996.

Question #11

What was your best game?

Answer: My first (and only) Major League save against the Detroit Tigers. I pitched three scoreless innings and struck out Lou Whitaker, who was a great player.

Question #12

What did you major in at Jacksonville University?

Answer: Physical Education & Recreation

Question #13

What aspects of Major League baseball do you think need to be improved/refined?

Answer:

 Instant replay system is very beneficial and it needs a little refining. I personally think we need to get rid of Bud Selig. He is an owner, not a neutral third party. I honestly think I could do a better job then him.

Question #14

Best player you've seen come through the Hudson Valley Renegades system is...?

Answer: Josh Hamilton was just an amazing baseball player when he came through here and when he came back for his rehab stint. Evan Longoria was a close second also.

Joe Ausaino was a pleasure to interview and if anyone has any questions  or comments on the interview with Joe Ausaino, feel free to comment below. Thanks!

Upcoming MLB All Star Game & Surprises

As the All Star Game is almost one month away, there as been a ton of surprises so far this season.

1. Miami Marlins:
They've been very surprising so far. They also picked a stud in Tyler Kolek, a  6'5" right hander who can throw 97-99 mph consisently. Giancarlo Stanton with the power surge of 17 homers so far, the Marlins are in a good spot.

2. Tampa Bay Rays:
Uhh what's up Rays? 24-42, they also hired "The Rainman", a 72 year old Seminole tribesmen thought to have brought "supernatural powers to the team" What?  Bobby Henry walked around the field, then promptly said that "They are ready to go" Maddon also hired a DJ, got a penguin, a snake and other interesting items to loosen the team up. Weird.

3. Toronto Blue Jays
12 games above .500, the Blue Jays are streaking! They could be a dangerous threat to contend for the World Series. Edwin Encarnacion has 20 homers and 53 RBIs and he is a monster. If they keep going like this, the AL East will be theirs.

All Star Game Updates

American League All-Star Voting

Position	Leader	Second	Third
C	Matt Wieters, BAL	Brian McCann, NYY	Derek Norris, OAK
1B	Miguel Cabrera, DET	Jose Abreu, CWS	Albert Pujols, LAA
2B	Robinson Cano, SEA	Ian Kinsler, DET	Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B	Josh Donaldson, OAK	Evan Longoria, TB	Manny Machado, BAL
SS	Derek Jeter, NYY	Alexei Ramirez, CWS	J.J. Hardy, BAL
OF 1	Jose Bautista, TOR	Adam Jones, BAL	Michael Brantley, CLE
OF 2	Mike Trout, LAA	Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY	Carlos Beltran, NYY
OF 3	Melky Cabrera, TOR	Yoenis Cespedes, OAK	Nick Markakis, BAL
DH	Nelson Cruz, BAL	David Ortiz, BOS	Victor Martinez, DET

National League All-Star Voting

Position	Leader	Second	Third
C	Yadier Molina, STL	Buster Posey, SF	Jonathan Lucroy, MIL
1B	Adrian Gonzalez, LAD	Paul Goldschmidt, ARI	Freddie Freeman, ATL
2B	Chase Utley, PHI	Dee Gordon, LAD	Neil Walker, PIT
3B	David Wright, NYM	Nolan Arenado, COL	Pablo Sandoval, SF
SS	Troy Tulowitzki, COL	Brandon Crawford, SF	Jean Segura, MIL
OF 1	Yasiel Puig, LAD	Andrew McCutchen, PIT	Angel Pagan, SF
OF 2	Giancarlo Stanton, MIA	Charlie Blackmon, COL	Justin Upton, ATL
OF 3	Carlos Gomez, MIL	Ryan Braun, MIL	Mike Morse, SF