Friday, April
3, 2009
Q&A with Glen Perkins
Twins Starting Pitcher
Good
morning all! We have nearly made it through this work week! All we have to do
is get through the weekend and Opening Day will be upon us! That brings us our
very own Bob the Builder opportunity. Can we make it?? I certainly hope we can!
This morning, I am very happy
to present another Q&A with a
member of the Twins organization. Glen Perkins
was born in Minnesota, went to high school in Minnesota (Stillwater), went to
the University of Minnesota, was drafted by and then signed with the Minnesota
Twins, and since September of 2006, he has been able to call himself a big
leaguer, a Minnesota Twin! Talk about living the dream! He enters 2009 in a
position that he has not previously been in. First, he will be with the Twins
for his very first Opening Day. Also, he came into spring training knowing that
he has a role as a starter in the Twins pitching staff. In 2008 with the Twins,
Perkins went 12-4 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Looking at his career
numbers, particularly his minor league track record, I fully believe that he
will have a breakthrough season in 2009. In August, he won five games including
shutouts against the Yankees and the Angels.
During the offseason, Perkins participated in the Twins Winter Caravan. While
on his travels that week in January, he wrote a daily blog at MLBlogs.com
called Twins Confidential. Apparently he
enjoyed it so much that he has continued to blog at MLBlogs.com at his new site
called Perk’s Place. His most
recent blog posting discussed how busy he has been down in Ft. Myers!
Because of that, I really want to thank him for taking the time to e-mail me
and then offer to do a Q&A. If you would like to send Glen a note, or ask a
question, click
here. Without further ado, or introduction, or whichever you prefer…
…Let the Questions Begin!
SethSpeaks: First things first - the 2009 season is upon us. What
is it about Opening Day, for you, that makes it so special?
Glen Perkins: This is going to be my first Opening Day w/ the
Twins, so I think it will be a little more special than the rest. I think
it's the promise of a new season, expectations, and the chance to prove people
wrong.
SethSpeaks: You
came into spring training this year with a different outlook than previous
springs; you had a role on the team, a secure job in the starting rotation. Was
spring any different for you this year?
Glen Perkins: This spring has been great and I think that my
performance can attest to the position I am in. Every baseball player is
a competitor and I could not ask for more than to be given the ball every fifth
day with the chance to compete and get our team a win. There is more
pressure on me this year than ever because they are entrusting me with 20% of our
games and I think it has allowed me to be even more intense than I normally am.
SethSpeaks: Since the end of last season, what are some of the
things that you have done to prepare for the 2009 season?
Glen Perkins: I ramped up my offseason workouts and also spent much
time talking to people and also practicing throwing my slider. It is a
pitch I started throwing midseason and I am committed to making that a reliable
pitch for me.
SethSpeaks: As important, what do you do during the offseason to
get away from baseball? Do you have hobbies, travel, or is all your time spent
with your kids?
Glen
Perkins:
Having two daughters is busy,
which I love, so playing with them does take most my time. My wife
however allows me plenty of time to go hunting for both pheasant and
deer. We went to Vegas again so that was fun. I won money, gave it
to my wife, and she lost it. Vegas is always sweet.
SethSpeaks: Did you work on anything during spring to add to the
pitches you throw? What pitches do you throw, and what would you call your out
pitch?
Glen
Perkins:
I throw fastball, slider, and
change up. I have really focused on improving my slider and I think Andy
and myself are pretty excited about the progress I have made with it.
SethSpeaks: Looking to the 2009 season, many believe that the
Twins will be fighting with three or even four teams for the AL Central title.
In your mind, what are a couple of keys to the Twins success in 2009?
Glen
Perkins:
Get Mauer healthy, starters
pitch deep in games, and our bullpen continues to rock and roll...
Seriously, I think us playing as a team and playing to our strengths- things we
have done well for a long time- and we will be just fine.
SethSpeaks: Alright, let's step back a bit and talk a little
about how you got to this point in your career. You grew up in Minnesota and
played high school ball. Can you talk a little about your high school career,
and did you play other positions when you didn't pitch?
Glen Perkins: I'm still waiting for them to retire my number- just
kidding. High school was fun. I think anyone who saw me bat against
Suppan or Maddux last year could quite easily see that I did not bat in a very
long time, including high school. I think I pitched 19 out of the 25
games my senior season.
SethSpeaks: Did you participate in other sports or
extracurricular activities in high school?
Glen Perkins: Our intramural b-ball team the "Dukes of
Hazzard" won the championship. I was Bo Duke... and also a huge geek.
SethSpeaks: Were you heavily recruited coming out of high school?
Drafted?
Glen Perkins: Neither heavily recruited or drafted. Skinny
little lefty w/ no change up doesn't get you far in pro ball.
SethSpeaks: I'm assuming it was a pretty easy decision for you to
go to the University of Minnesota. The Gophers always seem to be a contender in
the Big 10 and have a lot of talent. Talk about some of those teams, and
specifically talk about what has made coach John Anderson so successful?
Glen Perkins: We won all three years I was there. I thought we
could have gotten a little farther in the CWS in 2004 but we ran into the
buzzsaw of Jason Windsor/Ricky Romero and the Fullerton Titans.
SethSpeaks: You were the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year in 2004 and
led the team to the Regional Tournament. By this time, it was pretty certain
that you would be a late first round, supplemental round type of pick. When the
Twins took you with their second of three first round picks, what was that
like?
Glen Perkins: That was one of the best moments of my life, family
and friends at my parents house and I got the phone call. My friends were
looking for summer jobs and I told them "I think I just got hired".
SethSpeaks: Was
there any question in your mind that you would sign with the Twins since you
could have gone back to the Gophers for your senior season? If so, what were
some of the factors that made you decide to sign?
Glen
Perkins:
Being a first round pick by my
hometown team was a no-brainer for me. But also knowing the history of
the team and their ability to develop players made it impossibly easy.
SethSpeaks: You flew through the minor league system. Can you
briefly talk about that experience and what you learn from each promotion and
experience?
Glen Perkins: Each promotion is more expectations but I welcome
those and thrive off them, plus the change of scenery was always nice. I
don't need anymore changes of scenery now, though.
SethSpeaks: In 2006, you received word that the Twins would be
calling you up from Rochester. Talk about how you found out, how you reacted
and who you told first?
Glen Perkins: Terry Ryan was in Toledo watching the International
League Championship and told me after we lost. I called my wife, Alisha,
but she didn't answer- I called my parents next and they answered. The
rest is a blur.
SethSpeaks: On September 21, 2006, at Fenway Park, you made your
big league debut and got all four batters you faced out. What awas running
through your mind when you came into the game for your debut?
Glen Perkins: I can't really remember. I recall Stelly
telling me to keep the ball down and throw strikes.
SethSpeaks: And then you struck out five White Sox batters in 3.2
innings in your Twins Dome debut. I imagine that was quite an experience as
well to pitch in front of friends and family in a big league game, and in a
pennant race.
Glen
Perkins:
That was cool, that was my first
taste of the rivalry and I am glad I got off on the right foot.
SethSpeaks: You're now an established big league pitcher, can you
talk a little about some of the people who have helped you get to this point in
your career?
Glen Perkins: Ricky Michel- My high school coach. He got me
ready for D1 ball and always believed in me...he still does
Todd Oakes- Gopher pitching coach. Taught me
the change up and the importance of using it. I wouldn't be the pitcher I
am without him. He got me ready for pro ball both physically and
mentally. He along with Andy, are the two best teachers I know.
SethSpeaks: What is more difficult for a pitcher, the mental part
of the game, or the physical drain of pitching?
Glen Perkins: Yogi Berra- 90% of the game is mental, the other half
is physical.
That is the best way to sum it up. At the end
of the season it is hard to decide if you are more mentally or physically
drained. I think the tank is below "E" in both.
SethSpeaks: You've done both at the big league level. I'm curious
your thoughts on the differences between starting and out of the bullpen.
Everyone I've asked about that seems to have a different answer.
Glen Perkins: It's the difference of knowing and not knowing and
how you react to that. They are about as opposite as you can get.
It was fun going to the field with a chance to pitch but I have really embraced
putting all the chips in the basket every fifth day and seeing what I've got.
SethSpeaks: Scott
Baker, Francisco Liriano, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and yourself... In my
opinion, at various times throughout the 2008 season, an argument could have
been made that any of the five of you were the team's best pitcher. For me,
that's pretty exciting for Twins fans and for your team. Can you discuss the
relationship between the five of you? Is there any friendly competition and
pushing each other, or is that overblown?
Glen Perkins: I think we are the closest group of starters in the
big leagues, hands down. We know how to have fun and we know how to flip
that switch when it's our turn. It's probably overblown, we all focus on
giving our team everything we've got each time out, and not so much on what the
other guys did or are doing. We are always the first to congratulate each
other on a good outing and also the first to pick each other up after a rough
one.
SethSpeaks: Have you set any goals for yourself in 2009? Are
there certain statistics that you look at more than others to determine how
you're doing?
Glen Perkins: My goal is to pitch innings with quality, give the
team a chance to win. It doesn't matter to me what my stats look like if
we win when I pitch. They usually go hand in hand. I'll worry about
quality from inning to inning, the rest will take care of itself.
SethSpeaks: You are now a blogger. You started during the Winter
Caravan and kept it going. What made you decide to keep it going? What are your
thoughts on blogs in general, and do you sense that a lot of players read them?
Glen Perkins: I prefer bloggist, but that's neither here nor
there. I had fun on caravan with it so I figured I could make enough
stuff up during the season to keep people entertained. Baseball players
see some crazy stuff.
SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Movie?
Glen Perkins: Major League, no brainer
SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Book?
Glen Perkins: Moneyball, no brainer
SethSpeaks: Best part about a life in baseball?
Glen Perkins: Travel
SethSpeaks: Worst
part about a life in baseball?
Glen Perkins: Travel
SethSpeaks: Are you looking forward to playing at Target Field
next year (maybe not in April, and when you play there in October, it'll be
fine too!)
Glen Perkins: Target Field will be awesome. We all are
excited. I am still campaigning to my teammates about the beauty of April
baseball outside in Minnesota but I'm not getting very far.
SethSpeaks: Anything else that you think Twins fans should know
about you?
Glen Perkins: My blog is all sarcasm- my best trait- and please
don't take anything I write on there seriously.
A huge thank you to Glen Perkins for taking the time to answer all of these questions. We certainly wish him the best of luck in 2009 (and beyond). Let me know what you think. Send me an e-mail, or leave your questions or comments for me or Glen here. Who knows? Maybe Glen will even read them and reply??? Have a great weekend!