Tuesday,
December 18, 2007
Q&A with Pat Neshek
Twins Relief Pitcher
Good morning all! It is time
for another Q&A. Now, most Q&As that you find here are minor leaguers
and they are doing their first Q&A. Today is something a little different.
First, obviously Pat Neshek is a big
leaguer. He has been with the Twins since his call up right before the All-Star
break in 2006. He has been a key contributor in the Twins bullpen ever since.
In the first half of 2007, eh was so good that he was nominated for the final
AL All-Star roster spot. Also, Pat
Neshek is a veteran of the SethSpeaks Q&As. This will be the sixth
Q&A that he has done for this site. The first was before
the 2005 season. We then did one after the 2005 season,
before the 2006 season, an interactive
Q&A (reader questions) right before he was called up to the Twins, and
finally before the 2007 season. And here we are
following the 2007 season with another Q&A. So, you won’t see the same
questions that you see in a typical Q&A. With Pat we can talk about the big
leagues, statistics, his blog, collecting and really a number of topics. I hope
you enjoy this, and if you like this, be sure to check out the other Q&As that we have been able to have here on the
site.
Finally, let me know what you
think. Feel free to e-mail me
any questions or comments. Or, leave some comments at the bottom and discuss.
Who knows? Maybe Pat will check it out and be willing to answer some of your
questions here. Pat Neshek has
become a great big league relief pitcher. But part of what I enjoy about
following Neshek is that he just gets it. He understands his role as a player,
but also as a role model. He signs autographs. He does charity work. He updates
his own blog. He
has a message board on which he actively participates. He gets that the game is
about the fans. I know that saying that Pat
Neshek gets it is an oversimplification of what he does and what he means,
but I really mean that as a compliment.
Let
the Questions Begin!
SethSpeaks: First
of all, how is the shoulder/arm feeling at this time?
Pat
Neshek:
Arm is ready to pitch and has been fine the entire time. I
got kind of tired near the end of the season and it got to the point where my
shoulder was worn out and it was starting to hurt my elbow a little. I
learned a bunch of new exercises to strengthen my arm and I'm doing them like
crazy and ready for another year of pitching a lot. This year I will be
prepared for a long season.
SethSpeaks: You
had an amazing 2006 season between Rochester and your big league debut. Heading
into the 2007 were there any specific goals that you wanted to attain?
Pat
Neshek:
You know I don't really like setting goals to much. I like
to set challenges for myself. I think in the preseason I said I wanted to
have an ERA in the 2's and strikeout a guy an inning, have a whip under
1 and not give up too many inherited runners. Those same
goals/challenges I want to have for this upcoming season but I really want to
go after 100 k's for the season. I think with my shoulder
staying strong which will make a strong slider I should be able to make a good
run at that.
SethSpeaks: You
got off to an incredible start and were so good in the first half that Jim Leyland
put you on the ballot for the final AL All-Star roster spot. That had to be a
great honor going against guys like Jeremy Bonderman and Roy Halladay. How did
it feel when you heard that news?
Pat Neshek: Well, I thought it was pretty
neat that Jim Leyland picked me as one of the last guys he thought should be an
All Star. He has been around forever and, from what I hear, he is one of the
best managers to play for, so knowing he selected me meant the world. I also
was excited because you don't really hear of relief pitchers making the All
Star team. It was a huge honor and I really liked my chances until Lew Ford
came over to me in the clubhouse and said I had no shot because I was up
against the Nation of Japan. He was right -- Okajima had a lot of internet fans
in Japan! But overall I thought it was cool a small name like myself beat
out Roy Halladay and K Escobar. I would've like to have seen a final vote
total though, they never released the final numbers for some reason.
SethSpeaks: The
readers and fans of your blog really came through with a strong attempt to get
you onto the team. It came up a little short but still had to make you feel
pretty good about the support you got.
Pat
Neshek:
It was one of the best experiences I ever had in my life going
through that vote. I think the coolest thing was that it was at the Big
League level and it got a lot of media attention. If nothing else we made
a ton of new fans and it was good for baseball.
SethSpeaks: Much
has been made about some of the struggles you had late in the season. You never
made excuses and on your site and other places you talked about just not making
pitches. Looking back, how much of the struggle was based on the tired arm?
Pat
Neshek:
Baseball is a crazy game and that last month had me shaking my
head. There were numerous times where all I had to do was make one good
pitch and I was out of the inning and instead I hung a slider and gave up a 3
run bomb. I def noticed my arm was tired just by how my slider was not
moving. When that pitch isn't on I'm in trouble and I think that coupled
with bad luck and not making pitches all had something to do with me not
finishing strong. But like I said baseball is a game of inches and not
much separates an awesome era and a good era. In a lot of cases it's
getting one bad pitch back or not getting a call from an ump...Baseball makes
you humble and that's what makes it fun and gets players to come back and try
harder. Everyone is chasing perfection and in baseball nobody is perfect
yet it is fun to keep trying every year :)
SethSpeaks: I've asked
you this every year, but must ask it again. What is your plan for the
offseason? What will your routine be and when will you start throwing?
Pat
Neshek:
Same as always, right now I'm lifting and running and doing
things like body boarding in the ocean, playing tennis...anything that promotes
flexibility is what I'm going for. Once January hits I will start
throwing as well as continuing to lift.
SethSpeaks: Outside
of baseball, what else do you have planned for the offseason?
Pat Neshek: Just to
kick back and relax...The season has enough emotion to make someone insane so
us players def need the offseason to relax and recoup.
SethSpeaks: As a
rookie, you were in the bullpen of a playoff team. In 2007, the Twins weren't a
playoff team and I think we knew that fairly early. What was the feeling with
the players and in the clubhouse? Was there always a belief that the team would
comeback?
Pat Neshek: You
know we always thought we would make the playoffs and up until the trading
deadline I think we were within reach. I think the belief in a comeback
was in all of our heads until the games behind started to pile up. That
is what I love about our team, we never think we are out.
SethSpeaks: Alright,
one of the big questions or concerns about you was how left-handers hit against
you. I know that you worked on a changeup to use against lefties last
offseason. Well, righties hit .185 against you while lefties hit just .181.
Your WHIP against lefties was 1.10. How do you think you progressed against
left-handed hitters?
Pat Neshek: I
think I did great against lefties but I still need to get better. It was
just nice to shut up the critics and like I said before they were just saying
it because that was the only stat that was out of wack. I never
understood why that was such a big deal, I think in 2006 the Avg against was
like 240 which was like 5th on the team...Nobody ever complain about the other
guys not getting lefties out. I think sometimes it's just a bunch of
clueless reporters who are covering a game they don't know much about and are
only doing it because that's the only job that's open in the journalism
field. You have to remember that reporters are meant to create stories
and the game of baseball is entertainment...I just take it personal sometimes
because I don't like thinking about baseball as a business and it also sucks
having people play with your life so easily...especially people that don't
really understand the game.
SethSpeaks: Last
year it was a new pitch to use against lefties. Is there anything in particular
that you will be trying to add to your pitching scheme this offseason?
Pat Neshek: Not really I just think the
biggest thing is that I now understand how long the season is and that I have
to prepare better. That means lifting hard the entire season and
strengthening my arm as well. I think if this is done I will have a great
year.
SethSpeaks: How
do you explain: 1.69 ERA in night games... 4.68 ERA in day games? (Seth Note -
small sample :) )
Pat
Neshek:
I like to go out late! Just kidding...anyone that knows me
knows that I very rarely go out...I think my teammates would be shocked if they
saw me out after a game. I don't know what that stat is all about...It's
kind of weird because when I was in the minors I had the same problem...my era
was great at night and terrible during the day. I'm glad you are bringing
that stat up because it just shows something is wrong and I need to do
something about it. I think for night games I just prepare better, whereas
day games we usually come out an hour before the game and kind of just wing
it...I def need to keep the same program but it's tough when our team pulls a
show and go. I will make an attempt to squash this problem this year.
SethSpeaks: I know
you look at your numbers and there are certain that you probably look into more
than others. What are a couple of your 2007 stats that you are happy with?
Likewise, what are a couple of the numbers that you would like to improve upon?
Pat
Neshek:
You know I was very pleased with the season. I would have
liked more K's, I think I walked more than I wanted but a lot were attributed
to IBB's and you can do nothing about those. My hits were really
good this year and I think I will have a tough time doing better than that
but I will make a good run at that. Improvements...let's see, I'm
checking the numbers again...I think I would've liked a lower ERA especially
where I was in July but that's baseball. Walks is something I would def
like to improve on for this season and that starts by getting ahead of
hitters.
SethSpeaks: Late
in the season, Terry Ryan surprised a lot of people when he resigned. How and
when did the players find out about that decision, and what was the general
feeling among the players when it happened?
Pat Neshek: I found out when my mom heard
it on the radio and called me... Sure enough when I googled it something came
up and I was shocked. I don't think any of us expected that or saw it
coming. I could totally understand how Terry was feeling, this game will
def make you insane and wear you down. I totally understand and respect
his decision.
SethSpeaks: As a
player who is certain to be on the Twins 2008 roster and beyond, how do you
avoid complacency? How do you keep the motivation?
Pat
Neshek:
That's a good question and something each of us has to go
through. I think the best thing is to set challenges and goals to go
after. Most of my motivation for me is my family, making my parents
proud, seeing my brothers happy watching games and knowing my wife and I will
have a secure future is what really keeps me going.
SethSpeaks: You
always hear pitchers talk about how they don't look at the batter, but get the
catcher's sign and location and make their pitches. However, I have to ask...
when you struck out Sammy Sosa or Frank Thomas, you have to at least think that
it is pretty cool. Or, when someone like Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez
and other greats of the game, do you amp up, or do you have to protect yourself
against that?
Pat Neshek: You
know for the most part every pitcher is aware of who they are facing and what
they can do to you. Also guys like Frank Thomas are pretty tough not to
notice, he's a monster in the box. I pretty much get amped up facing the
newest rookie or the next Hall of Famer...for me it's the big leagues and a
time to shine so I'm amped just to be on the mound and that's enough for me to
get pumped.
SethSpeaks: I've
read in interviews with you that you spend a lot of time each morning reading
blogs and other sites online. What are you looking for on these sites? Scouting
reports? Stats? Entertainment?
Pat
Neshek:
I don't know what I'm looking for, I guess it's just to stay
fresh and up to date...kind of like how people read a newspaper every
morning. I guess just to find something out or hear info that is new
and what's going on in the world.
SethSpeaks: Can
you discuss your thoughts on the value of blogs as opposed to more mainstream
media?
Pat Neshek: Blogs are much more in-depth
and have more reasoning to what is posted for the most part. Mainstream
media is about sensationalism and making a story and having connections to try
and get a story first. For the most part blogs are for people that really
understand the game and the media is for people who just want to read a story
or see how the team is doing. There are + and - for both categories and
you can sit here forever and debate about which is better...I guess you just
take what you want from each!
SethSpeaks: Beat
writers are probably constantly being asked what so-and-so ballplayer is like
in person. To turn that around, tell us a little bit about the Twins beat
writers.
Pat Neshek: Beat
writers have a tough job. First off they have to follow around the same
team all year and cover it. Second they have to get a story and a lot of
the times us players are too mad to talk about it. Lastly they have to
watch what they print or else there will be an outrage amongst readers. I
have a lot of respect for beat writers it's a tough job with long hours.
I'm not going to put you on the spot and ask you questions about
Torii Hunter or Nick Punto, but there are a couple of guys I would like your
thoughts on.
SethSpeaks: What
does having Joe Nathan at the backend of the bullpen mean to a team?
Pat
Neshek:
He's what makes our bullpen, the foundation...without him it
would be tough and we would all have different roles and probably wouldn't
work as well.
SethSpeaks: Matt
Guerrier went from long relief (where he was good) to being a key contributor
and performed great in more high-leverage situations in 2007. Tell us a little
about Guerrier and how his confidence had to improve greatly over the season.
Pat Neshek: It
was awesome to see him get a chance and run with it. Both of us really
had to step up a little when a couple of the guys went down and Matty tore it
up.
SethSpeaks: If
you were a pitching coach, what are a few "rules for the bullpen"
that you would want to abide by? (for instance, warming up, pitch count,
situation, etc. To help - for instance, I happen to think that if you are
brought in with the bases loaded and two outs and gets out of the inning,
should he just be done?)
Pat
Neshek:
If I were running a bullpen I would have no rules...basically if
you are in the majors you should be able to fend for yourself. I would do
things though like count pitches thrown and keep track of pitch counts and make
sure guys were ok to pitch. This is basically what we do now and it works
the best.
SethSpeaks: Again,
I'm not going to put you on the spot and ask specific questions, but in
general, what do you think that the Twins need to do in the offseason for 2008?
Rebuild? Major overhaul? Minor tweeking?
Pat Neshek: I
think as of right now we are going to put a competitive team out on the
field. I'm ready to win some games and will to back down and I think that
goes for the rest of the Twins. Detroit is gong to be tough and have an
unreal lineup and Cleveland is coming back with a stacked team. It's
going to be tough but I'm ready for the challenge.
SethSpeaks: On
your website, you talk about collectibles and autographs a lot. In fact, you
were able to get some of your teammates to trade in some of their game-used
equipment (signed) for packages of autographs and such from your readers. What
type of reception do other players and people around the team do you get?
Pat
Neshek:
They can't believe people out there want that type of
stuff. Lecroy and Redmond use to always joke with me about giving me
his jock strap to auction off...I told him I would and people out there would
want it...He just laughed. I think it's great to be able to bring the
niche fans and players together. At first I was the same way I didn't
think it would be big...It's been a big hit.
SethSpeaks: Some
of my favorite things on your site throughout the year were some of the letters
you shared from people asking for crazy autograph requests for you and your
teammates. Tell us a couple more funny autograph stories (in-person or letters)
from the year.
Pat Neshek: Funny
stories, just about every week I get crazy letters. I never get the ones
that expect you to send a package back to them and pay for it...Or the ones
that tell me to send them a ball. I got one the other day from a fan that
had an expired Iowa License plate that said STRYK 3...I was shocked because
mine is pretty similar. Everyday is a new story and that is why I like
opening mail. Another funny one was from a brother of an olympic athlete
on the women's curling team...He wanted me to say hi to her and her friends at
a game,..He included signed photos and told me to stop by with a ball and say
hi...it made me laugh.
SethSpeaks: I
enjoy checking out the message boards on your site and woudl encourage all
readers to sign up. Pat, tell my readers a little more of what happens on your
message boards and how many members there are, and why they should check
it out? You are actually quite active on the boards which makes it quite
entertaining.
Pat
Neshek:
I go on there a lot and just chat with fans...if nothing else
it's a place to share stories and talk about everything collecting and getting
autographs...Of course there's other things to talk about and it's a pretty
neat place to be on. Right now there are 4500 members that have signed
up.
A big thank you to Pat Neshek for taking the time to answer all of these questions. Let me know what you think. Send me an e-mail, or let's talk about it in the Comments here. That is it for today!