Category: Dailies
Craig_biggios_dirty_helmet
Getting to know: RYAN DEMPSTER – Video Interview
Ball players come in all shapes and sizes, personalities and skill levels. Many also have hidden talents. Such is the case with Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. Not only is he an excellent pitcher, but it just so happens he does magic tricks and impersonations! Click on the link below to see my video interview with Ryan. He’ll have you in stitches!
Milwaukee Brewers Chad Moeller
What do you feel is the best thing about playing baseball?
It’s something that I love doing. I’ve done it my whole life. I did it growing up as a kid and it keeps me young and keeps me in my own mind from having to grow up.
What stadium do you like to play in best?
I’m a big fan of San Francisco’s stadium. I enjoy the atmosphere there, I’ve played a lot of games there and I just love the crowd they have in there, the setting, and I just like the whole experience there.
Do you have any hobbies?
I spend a lot of time during the off season reading and during the season reading. Also I’ll spend some time on the golf course.
What kind of music do you like?
Pretty much everything. For the most part Dave Mathews, something fairly mellow.
When did you start playing ball?
About five or six years old, just haven’t stopped.
Do you guys play jokes on each other?
Yeah, definitely. There’s a lot of pranks that go on. We have to keep the club house light and keep the energy up and you can’t let it all get too serious.
Do you have a nickname in the clubhouse?
I go by Mo for the most part. Just abbreviated from my last name. It’s kind of boring but I’ve gone by that for a long time.
What’s the best thing about being an athlete?
[Laughs] – I don’t have to get behind a desk and wear a suit.
When it’s two in the morning and you can’t sleep what movie would you watch?
Probably Caddy Shack if I had my choice. I’ve watched it enough times.
If you didn’t play baseball what job would you have?
I don’t know. My degree is in economics. Probably something in the business world.
Did you get annoyed when fans ask for autographs?
No I don’t get annoyed at that at all. It can get annoying when you see the same people over and over and they have fifteen cards and you know they’re selling them but kids never once.
Since you squat all the time in a game, how does that feel?
I’m sore most of the time. I have to take care of my legs a lot because they’re always taking a beating.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
To stay as young as you can and absolutely enjoy what you’re doing and have no regrets when you’re done with it.
Spring Baseball Fever
While spring training for the pros may be coming to an end, high school baseball is in full swing. High School seniors are trying to secure their future, and to them, every game counts. Many have dreams of playing at the pro level, and have their favorite players they look up to.
Like the pros, they have to have a balance in their lives. For them, it’s between baseball, school and family. They hustle and sweat just like the pros, and have that drive and determination to carry their team to the play-offs. Below are quotes on favorite MLB players and photos from some of the local high school players where I live. They too want to be winners, and they too play because they love it.
Friendswood High School Coach Charlie Taylor "We are pleased as coaches as to what we have seen in the first few weeks of the season and have had a good start in district play. If we continue working to improve we should have a good season ,with hopes to return to the playoffs again this season."
Zach Jacobson, Friendswood High School Senior
Favorite MLB PLayer: Brad Lidge of the Houston Astros because
"He plays hard and grinds it out every game. I admire that.”
Jared Myrick – Friendswood High School Junior
Favorite MLB Player: Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees
“….he gets into the game…he’s a great baseball player.”
Bobby Loveless – Friendswood High School Junior 
Favorite: Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros
“He’s a hard worker and gives 110% every game.”
Justin Barba– 
Friendswood High School Senior
Favorite: Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros
"He had an ACL tear like I had and he recovered from it, and carried his team to the World Series.”
Coach Ben Pardo – Pearland High School Baseball Coach on his team. "It is a close group of boys who work extremely hard. They have expectations of returning to the playoffs in 2006. The district race will be a dog fight."
Mike Speciale – Pearland High School Senior
Favorite: Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees
"Best shortstop of all time."
Daniel Lopez – 
Pearland High School Senior
Favorite: Mariano Rivera – New York Yankees
"Best closer ever."
Chad Garner 
Pearland High School Senior
Favorite: Alex Rodriguez– New York Yankees
"Good 3rd baseman -unique style."
Matt Murphy – 
Pearland High School Junior
Favorite: Pete Rose
He always gave 100% every time on the field and was one of the best hitters in the game."
who has a form of Downs Syndrome, used to watch her brother and sister go off to their practices and she wished she could play too. Kids with special needs often struggle to find a place in organized sports, and Molly was no exception. 
Q&A with Eric Gagne
ERIC GAGNE of the LOS ANGELES DODGERS –
MM: You are one of the most dominate closers in baseball – how do you feel about that?
EG: It’s kind of fun that you guys say that. I just want to work out everyday and have fun with it. Everytime I step on the field I have fun. It’s great.
MM: What’s your favorite pitch?
EG: Change up. I love my change up. I think it’s a pretty good pitch and I like to keep everybody off balance but I like to throw fast balls and throw hard.
MM: What’s the fastest ball you have thrown?
EG: The fastest I’ve ever seen was 100 mph and that was in
Milwaukee
a few years ago.
MM: What’s the first thing you bought with your big league paycheck?
I bought my mom a house. My mom has always been there and always been supportive and I bought her a house and she was really happy.
MM: What are your hobbies?
EG: Golf, I play a lot of golf and I love watching hockey. I can’t play the game anymore but I watch a lot of it.
MM: Name the one thing you don’t travel without.
EG: My I Pod. I have to have my music in my ears all the time.
MM: Tell me something in your that people don’t know about.
EG: I’m not really aggressive, I’m really calm. You don’t see that on the mound but I’m really a calm guy.
MM: What’s the best advice anyone has every given you?
EG: Jesse Orasco, by telling me it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday or the day before, you have to come down every day and be positive and have fun playing baseball, and if you don’t have fun playing baseball then you should go home.
Lightening Round:
DH or no DH –
No DH
Night game or day game –
Night Game
West coast/east coast –
West coast
National Geographic or Sports Illustrated
National Geographic
Reality or comedy
Comedy
Country or rap
Rap
Dog or cats –
Dogs
Two Time World Series Champ Craig Counsell
Craig Counsell 
is an all around good guy. A two time World Series Champion, he’s the kind of guy kid’s look up to. Just ask my older brother Zach. When Zach was nine, he thought Craig was the best player in the world and wrote to him all the time. At that time, Craig was with the Florida Marlins. The Marlins had just won the 1997 World Series, and Craig was a hero in South Florida. My mom would take Zach to the Marlins games when they came to Houston. They met by chance at a game, and after that they became friends. One year, Zach was invited to the Marlins spring training camp in Viera, Florida, and hung out with Craig for the day. We got to go on the trip with Zach, and it was pretty exciting, but of course to Zach, it was the best day ever.
Craig was traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers and then to Diamondbacks, before landing in Milwaukee, his hometown, two years ago. Last season, he was traded back to the Diamondbacks and is very happy.
To this day, Zach and Craig still see each other every time he comes to town, and they stay in touch. Zach is 15 now and their friendship has continued. To me, that is what makes a champion. Not just winning the World Series or a big game, but knowing you have influenced a kid along the way, and been a good role model and friend.
MM: Is there a big difference between playing in Arizona and Milwaukee?
CC: Not too different. It’s still major league baseball, and you meet different guys and make new friends, and other than that, it’s about the same.
MM: What was it like going back and playing in Milwaukee, the town you grew up in?
CC: Well it was pretty cool for any kid who grew up wanting to play major league baseball. To be able to play in the town that you grew up was a great opportunity.
MM: Did you have a favorite place to play between Arizona and Florida?
CC: With both the Diamondbacks and the Marlins, we won the World Series, so both those were a lot of fun. It’s tough to top that.
MM: Do you feel there is a great responsibility being a role model?
CC: I think it is a responsibility, but if you are a good person and you try to live your life as a good person, then everybody’s a role model. That’s how I think of it.
MM: What would you have done for a job if you weren’t a baseball player?
CC: That’s a good question. I’m not sure. I haven’t had to find out yet. I went to college and have a degree in accounting, so maybe something like that.
MM: What do you consider as your greatest strength as a player?
CC: Probably defense. I can play a bunch of positions so probably just kind of being versatile for the manager to be able to go to a couple different positions.
MM: Have things changed for you now that you’re a dad?
CC: It’s changed quite a bit. It’s a great thrill and it’s wonderful, and it changes your perspective in what things you consider important. I love it every day being a father.
MM: Who would you consider to be your biggest fan?
CC: (laughs) That’s a loaded question. I can’t say one person, but I have a lot of great fans, and their support is great and I’m glad they enjoy watching me.
MM: If you were stuck on an island, which of these things would you want with you. A good book, a good movie or a good CD?
CC: I’d probably have a good book. It would last longer.
MM: What book?
CC: I’d take a long one.
MM: What is one thing in your locker that would shock people to know?
CC: I don’t have anything crazy in there. Just the normal stuff.
MM: What is the last good book that you read?
CC: The Da Vinci Code.
MM: Best movie?
CC: Lost in Translation. I like Bill Murray. He’s funny.
MM: Who influenced you most in life and why.
CC: My parents, for sure. They’re the ultimate role models, so my parents were the biggest influence.
Will Clemens Return?
That’s the big question on everyone’s mind in Houston. What is up with the Astros and Roger Clemens?
Many people were surprised at the announcement that the team would not offer arbitration to the Rocket, myself included. But after thinking about it for a while, I believe the Rocket will return, just not right now.
This team is not ready to let Clemens go, and I don’t think Rocket is ready to walk away. I think the extra time will be just what Roger needs to heal his tired body and catch his breath, before leading the Astros into the hunt for post-season play, and another World Series run.
At a recent Aeros hockey game, I had the chance to sit down with Houston Astros coach Phil Garner. Garner, and his wife Carol, who were there to drop the ceremonial puck.
We talked about last year’s season, the outlook for spring training and the Winter Meetings. This all took place before the Astros decided not to offer Clemens arbitration, but I think we all see the writing on the wall. It’s not over yet.
Here’s what Phil had to say.
MM: Do you think Jeff Bagwell will have a limited season next year?
PG: The good news is that Jeff right now is training and he is starting to lift weights which is something he hasn’t been able to do in the past three to four years. He looks in great shape and he’s getting some more strength and you can see that he’s able to do some things that he has not been able to do so my guess is that he’s going to be able to play and that he’s going to be able to play well for a full season. I expect him to have a good spring and I’m very optimistic he’s going to be ok.
MM: What about Clemens? Do you think he will play next year?
PG: That’s the big question isn’t it. From what I understand he’s going to let us know in the middle of this week. We’ll be in winter meetings and I go up there tomorrow and I’ve not spoken to him .We’ve played a little bit of phone tag but I think whatever Rocket decides to do will be good.
MM: Let’s assume he comes back and you have Clemens, Oswalt and Pettitte in the starting rotation. Who would be the other two starters?
PG: Well certainly Backe (Brandon) would be in the mix, and if we had to say today, you have got to take a look at Wandy Rodriguez. I think he pitched well the last couple of months last year, and of course Ezekiel Estascio would fit into the mix, but Spring Training would go a long way in determining who that fifth guy would be.
MM: Out of the players you have in the current lineup, would you change anything if you could?
PG: Well, I think the combination of what we have, like Adam Everett, could be a little more productive offensively, and that will be something in spring training that we will have to work on. Morgan Ensberg is fantastic, Biggio is back at second base and Bagwell back at first base which puts Berkman out in left field, and of course you’ve got Willie Taveras, who was runner up Rookie of the Year. You’ve got to put him back out there and Jason Lane had a really good year and we’re negotiating with Brad Ausmus. If you just take a look at the basic ball club, we went to the World Series . We did something right, you know, and obviously our pitching was fantastic, but our offense did well enough to get to the World Series. I don’t see us making any trades now for offensive players of any impact nature because I think given the fact, well let’s just way that Rocket comes back; we’re gonna have to stay within a payroll structure that is going to prohibit us from spending 10 million on an impact player.
MM: What about Ausmus?
PG: Well, we’ve made him an offer and he’s counterd the offer and I think we are in the middle of those negotiations. I think that Rocket will have some influence on him if Rocket comes back. That’s probably a plus for Brad, as he’s kind of his personal catcher.
MM: Are you going after any other free agents?
PG: We’ll probably look at free agents in the sense of how the guy will fit on the ball club in maybe a utility role. We’ll take a look at some of that. I don’t expect that we’re going to be looking at any big time free agents for now. If Rocket doesn’t come back, that may change.
Holiday Thoughts
I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all the great baseball fans and readers of mlb.com a very happy holiday!
Another season is over, but the excitement for 2006 is building! It is so much fun to watch the behind the scenes action to see who will land where. When I was a little kid, I used to think all the guys always played on one team. Now they move around so much, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with it all. But that’s what makes baseball so exciting. Guys who may have struggled on one team breathe new life into another.
I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do. And I also feel lucky that I have not had the trama in my life as so many have during this unfortunate hurricane season. Katrina and Rita wreaked havoc on so many, and it will take a very long time for these families to recover.
I got to thinking that maybe if I were to do with a little less this year, and make a contribution to the Red Cross, that might make someone else’s life a little easier. I hope everyone will consider donating what ever you can. Every dollar helps. Whether it’s $1, $5, $10 or whatever, we can make a difference.
While my family had to evacuate when it looked like Rita was heading our way, I know it put a strain on my family’s budget. Between hotel rooms, traveling expenses, gas, etc., it made an impact. I can only imagine what it did to families who had to leave everything behind and had nothing to return to.
So, with the holiday spirit in our hearts, let’s not forget our friends and neighbors who need our help this year. Tis the season for sharing and caring!
Happy Holidays!
Jeter Making His Mark in New York
Derek Jeter is a Yankees icon. 
But he’s more than just a great baseball player.
He’s a competitor. He’s nice to his fans. He proves that working hard pays off. And, he loves what he does.
He represents the good things in baseball. In a time when athletes are making news for all the wrong reasons, he’s doing it right.
Born Derek Sanderson Jeter on June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, NJ, he graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan in 1992, and began his career in baseball. He was selected in the first round of the June 1992 free agent draft.
As a kid, Jeter enjoyed playing basketball along with baseball. But he knew from the very start that he wanted to be a professional baseball player one day. So much so, that he announced to his parents that one day he would be playing for the New York Yankees when he grew up.
His only job that he had besides baseball was mowing a neighbor’s lawn. Imagine the stories that guy has today! Derek Jeter mowed my lawn!
Derek credits his parents for having a big influence on his career. “They’ve always been very supportive and always told me I could do whatever I wanted as long as I worked hard,” said Jeter.
He believed them, and it paid off.
During his time in New York, he has helped the Yankees to six World Series playoffs, earning four titles, and has made six All-Star Game appearances. He has also won numerous awards including 1996 Rookie of the Year, 2000 World Series Most Valuable Player, and 2000 All-Star Game MVP. This month Jeter won his 2nd consecutive Golf Glove award, and the Yankee’s first short-stop to do so.
In 2005, he had a .309 average, with 19 home runs and 70 RBI’s.
His fans love him, and he has them wherever he goes. Last July, I was in a restaurant having lunch, and looked over to see Derek Jeter sitting in the same restaurant, two tables away. It was fun watching people’s reaction to seeing him. One kid was so excited he went running out of the restaurant to find his parents, who were parking the car. You could hear him yelling the news to them. Derek was polite to all, and it made me think how hard it must be sometimes for someone as famous as he is to go out in public. As we left, he looked up and smiled at me and waved. It was way cool.
When away from the ballpark, Jeter enjoys going to the movies and the nightlife of New York. “I’m always at the movie theatre,” he said. “My favorite movie is Scarface. I like Al Pacino and I’m a big fan.”
Derek also gives back to his community. He established the Turn 2 Foundation, which has offices in New York, Michigan and Florida. It is a non-profit organization that helps at risk kids and promotes healthy lifestyles and creates programs and activities designed to prevent and treat teenage substance abuse.
The off season is spent at his home in Tampa, Florida where he enjoys relaxing and working out. The time away form the big city gives him a chance to unwind and prepare himself for the next season. He doesn’t have any pets because he is “scared of animals.” If he didn’t play baseball, he would want a job that was sports related. “It would have to be in sports,” he said.
With the season in full swing, you can bet Jeter has one thing on his mind; the hunt for October. He is at the top of his game, a real competitor, and has a fierce determination to win.
His advice to kids? It’s simple. “Do well in school, work hard and remember the best thing about baseball is that regardless of your size, anyone can play.”
He gave me that big smile again, and then added, “Most important of all is to have fun.”
Just for Fun:
What stadium do you like to play in the most?
Yankee Stadium! It has all the tradition, the fans are great and the atmosphere is outstanding.
Do fans ever annoy you?
Boston fans annoy me. They’re not very nice.
If you had been stuck on an island and you could have anybody with you besides family, who would it be?
Somebody that would get me off the island!
If they made a movie about you, who should play you?
Will Smith. I think he’s a great actor and kind of goofy like me.
What’s the biggest opportunity you have had?
To be able to play professional baseball.
How do you feel about kids looking up to you?
It really makes you feel special when kids look up to you.
If you could live in any time in history when would it be?
Right now!
MLB Musings with Michael - Look Who I Just Interviewed! 
