Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Q&A with Brad Tippett
Twins Minor League Pitching Prospect
Good morning, today I am
thrilled to bring you another Question and Answer with a Minnesota Twins
pitching prospect. Brad Tippett grew
up in Australia. He signed with the Twins in January 2006 at the age of 17, and
since then, he has put up great numbers in several roles. He has been a closer,
a set up man, and now it appears that he will be a starter for the time being.
He has put up some absolutely amazing strikeout and walk numbers. He doesn’t
throw terribly hard, but he is a very good pitcher. He has represented Australia
in several international competitions, and it is likely that he will be a part
of Team Australia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Tippett is a guy that
Twins fans should follow closely over the coming years.
Click here for the stats of Brad Tippett. (Click here to see previous Q&As)
Let the
Questions Begin!
SethSpeaks: Growing up in Australia,
were you able to follow Major League Baseball at all? Who were your favorite
teams and some of your favorite players?
Brad Tippett: We don’t get much coverage
of MLB in Australia and when they do decide to play it, its at 2am. So I didn’t
really get to follow it that much.
SethSpeaks: Tell us a little bit
about your youth playing career in Australia.
Brad Tippett: Well I started
playing tee-ball at about 6 because my dad played in a local comp, and
they wanted to get me in the sport and see if I’d enjoy it. Then i started
playing baseball at 12 and it’s taken off since then.
SethSpeaks: Did you participate in
any other events or activities growing up?
Brad
Tippett: Before
I played baseball I used to play soccer and a little bit of cricket
on the weekends and for school, but after I started making rep teams i put all
that aside and baseball took up the whole weekend
SethSpeaks: When did you start
hearing from major league scouts, and what did they tell you?
Brad Tippett: At about 16 when I went
to the Australian Academy is when I started understanding all
about signing professional and playing in America. They didn’t really
speak to me, they were just watching at the time, but later I signed with
an agent to help me out with negotiations.
SethSpeaks: Were there other teams
talking to you, and what was it that made you decide to play with the Twins?
Brad Tippett: The twins had a lot
of Australian guys in their system which is good because you travel
together and have a good bond with them because you've
been playing with them for years. I didn’t really have a choice at the
time. haha so I went with the Twins.
SethSpeaks: You signed in January of
2006... what are your memories of coming to the States, specifically Florida?
Brad Tippett: My first few weeks
at spring training were scary, I was nervous. I saw all these older guys
that were bigger than me and threw harder than me! Extended spring was
slow and repetitive, and everyone’s battling through the heat. But it paid
off. I learnt a lot down there.
SethSpeaks: What were your thoughts
when you were attending your first Spring Training? Did you think you could fit
in and succeed, or were you ever overwhelmed?
Brad Tippett: I was definitely
overwhelmed. I was glad I had friends there that had been threw it before.
SethSpeaks: You went to Extended
Spring Training and then to the GCL Twins. You were the closer at age 18 and
recorded ten saves and went 3-5 with a solid 2.53 ERA in 19 games. Did you feel
better about your chances of making it after experiencing success?
Brad Tippett:
I’m not sure how I fell into that role, I’d never
been a closer, always a starter, and after a while I adapted to it.
It helps, to have a good year puts you in the right frame of mind
to perform well, and keep doing what's working. If your not performing
well you have a lot of self doubt.
SethSpeaks: 2007 was another
excellent season for you. You were again in the bullpen at Elizabethton and
helped the team to another championship. 7-1 with a 0.93 ERA. Can you describe
that season, that team, and your performance?
Brad Tippett:
Nothing went wrong really. I’d only pitch 2-3
innings at a time, and maybe only had one poor performance throughout
the season. I was ready everyday, I really enjoyed it. Our team was great,
we all had a close relationship on and off the field. And to win it
topped it off.
SethSpeaks: You began the 2008
season in the Beloit bullpen and did well, but when the Elizabethton
season started you went back down there and went 8-3 with a 2.55 ERA as a
starter. Can you explain the decision to move you back to start? Was that
your decision or the organization's decision?
Brad
Tippett: That
was the Organizations’ decision, it helped me though, I got a
lot more innings than I would’ve up in Beloit and more experience on how I can
get guys out.
SethSpeaks: So, from your perspective,
what are the differences between being a starter and being a reliever in terms
of preparation, physical and mental? Do you have a preference?
Brad Tippett: There's differences,
starting gives you plenty of time to mentally prepare yourself for a game,
you know what time and what field your playing on. Out of the bullpen you don’t
know when its your time to pitch, so when you get the call you gotta
get ready and prepare yourself, and the game is usually on the line.
SethSpeaks: In 2006, you walked
5 and struck out 18. In 2007, you walked just four and struck out 51 in 38
innings. Combined in '08, you walked 14 and struck out 78. Obviously you
have tremendous control. Discuss your pitching philosophy, particularly
speaking to your ability to throw strikes without being hit too hard.
Brad Tippett: I just try to keep it in
the strike zone, but not down the middle, and if I can see where
the umpires calling ill stay there and just mix up all my pitches to keep a
batter of balance.
SethSpeaks: How would you describe
yourself as a pitcher? What pitches do you throw? What would you say are
your best pitches and what pitches are you still working on?
Brad Tippett: I’m not a power pitcher
because I don’t have a 95mph+ fastball. But i have control of 3
pitches I can throw anytime. My change up has gotten a lot better over the last
2years. I’m working on my curve ball, just to get better control
of it, but its going well. So I guess a control guy.
SethSpeaks: When you leave the
United States after the season and before the winter, you head back home to
Australia's summer months and play ball. Can you describe the Australian
baseball leagues and the caliber of competition there?
Brad Tippett:
I
play for my local club in Sydney on Wednesday and Sunday.
The standard is ok, but it’s mostly to get work in and practice
facing hitters again
SethSpeaks: I know you're playing in a big
Australian tournament now which will conclude just before the WBC. Do you
just play baseball year 'round, or are you able to get away from it
for a little while to rest?
Brad Tippett:
We get a rest when we first come home and take some time off. But I don’t like
to stop completely. I need to pick up a ball and have a throw once a week,
otherwise everything feels weird, mechanics and that.
SethSpeaks: Speaking of the WBC, you are on the
Australian team's provisional list for participating in the tournament. You
have played for Team Australia in several tournaments. What does it mean
to you to play for your country, and secondly, what has your highlight of
international competition been?
Brad Tippett: Its an awesome experience. And we have a good team
and usually do well at the tournaments. The highlight would
be starting the semi final game against Chinese Taipei in
2003. Although we lost it was a great experience.
SethSpeaks: What are your goals for the 2009
season? Where do you hope to play, and are there any of your numbers that you
look at more than others?
Brad Tippett: Just to be prepared for a full
season. I hope to play in Beloit and start, but that's their decision in the
end. I like to get through a lot of innings, I’m not worried about strike
outs, although they are good, and want to keep my walks low.
SethSpeaks: Who are some of the people who have
helped you get to this point in your career?
Brad Tippett:
Rob McLean was my first ever pitching coach and set my career in
motion, with proper mechanics and how to throw a curveball. After that there
was Barry Holland and Rick Knapp who've helped me the recent years. Mum
and dads support has been priceless.
SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Book?
Brad Tippett:
I don’t really read books.
SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Movie?
Brad Tippett: Sandlot Kids.
SethSpeaks: What would it be like to put on a
Minnesota Twins uniform for the first time in a regular season game, standing
on the mound against a big league hitter?
Brad Tippett: Nerve racking and plenty of
adrenaline!
A big thank you
goes to Brad Tippett for taking the time to answer these questions.
Obviously we wish him the best success in 2009! If you have any questions or
comments, please feel free to put them in the comments,
or e-mail me and I will try to
get a response.