FREE Fantasy Baseball Guide
Follow FantasyPros911 Here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Other Articles You Might Like
03 Mar 2009 |
|
| I promised bigger and better and once again here I am- they will keep getting bigger and better. Recently I was lucky enough to interview Johnathan Broxton, one of the best up and coming players in baseball. Thanks to agent BB Abbott of Jet Sports Management for helping to set up this interview. Be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts on the interview. My questions are in bold and italics.
Kevin Orris: You’ve got the full time job now as the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Do you think you can live up to the standard that Eric Gagne once set? Jonathan Broxton: That's quite a standard. I am just going to try to go out and do my job. If I am the closer, I feel confident that I can bring a level or intensity and success in that role. KO: What have you done this off-season to prepare for 2009? Anything different than in years past? JB:I workout everyday and have given my arm some rest. I have focused on strengthening my shoulder. I feel great, as I usually do rolling into spring training. KO: What players did you idolize growing up? We’re you always a closer? JB: I was not always a closer. I started for most of my life, including my first few years in pro ball. I followed guys like Smoltz and Clemens. KO: Did you know that you were going to be taken by the Dodgers in the draft? Where did you expect to be taken? JB: I thought that was a possibility. I knew the Braves were a possibility as well. I went about where my advisor (now agent) told me I would probably go. 2nd round. KO: Who is the best hitter that you have ever faced? What makes that hitter so good? JB: Right now it's Matt Stairs! I know Chipper would want me to say him, and it would be very hard to say otherwise. Manny is one of the best I've been on the same team with. You have to keep in mind that I see guys on a limited basis. It is usually "here it is" if you can beat me. KO: How do you feel about the Dodgers off-season so far? Will you repeat as NL West Champions again in 2009? JB: I hope we can. We lost quite a bit, but I don't know that we are done quite yet. I feel good about our young guys. I think we stack up well. KO: What changes have there been since Joe Torre took over? What were your initial reactions when you heard he was going to be your manager in 2008? JB: I was excited to have Joe. He is very even keeled. He doesn't get too high or too low. He lets his coaches and players do their thing. He has been a pleasure to play for, and to go through a playoff scenario with. He has been great with me. KO: How do you feel about playing exhibition games overseas? What were the best and worst parts of the trip? JB: Exhausting. I know it is good for baseball and increases the popularity of the sport, but we travel so much during the year. Spring training is our time to get ready for a long season, and it can be disruptive. But, it was a cool experience and something that I appreciated doing. KO: Do you try to pitch to your own strengths or the hitter’s weakness? What do you think your best strengths are? JB: I try to attack a hitter with my best stuff. Russ (Martin) knows what I have working on a particular night, and he knows where we can attack a hitter. My mentality as a set-up guy or closer has always been "here it is." I have learned, and continue to learn, about getting ahead and counts. I have always relied on my stuff, but I am still learning about situations. I am getting better each season with that. KO: Where do you think Russell Martin ranks among the new generation of catchers including Brian McCann, Joe Mauer, Geovany Soto, and Chris Iannetta? JB: Very well. He is so athletic and versatile. He can do so many things offensively and defensively. Steal bags, hit HRs, drive in runs, make great defensive plays. And he is probably the most versatile of the group, because he is pretty good at 3B.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email this
Trackback(0)
Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
More articles :