Mike Murray is a Giants catching prospect currently with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, and has gone on to hit .385/.422/.548 in two professional seasons with the AZL Giants and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. You can find him on Twitter @MJMurray15, and he writes a blog -- BigLeagueThoughts.com....Mike was kind enough to answer a few questions:
A couple major-leaguers, Dave Bush and Mike MacDougal, have come out of Wake Forest University, as well as guys like Matt Antonelli and Allan Dykstra. Have you had any kind of contact with these guys?
I have had the chance to meet Dave Bush at an alumni event and haven't had the chance to meet Mike MacDougal. Allan Dykstra was a teammate of mine for two seasons at Wake. My sophomore year I hit right behind Allan in the lineup and we would do a lot of talking about adjustments that needed to be made to hit in the middle of the order. Looking off-speed in fastball counts and understanding when guys would try to pitch backwards or come in. He helped me a lot acclimating to ACC pitching. I am happy that he is putting together a great year in the Eastern League for the Mets, and hopefully will see him in the big leagues soon. Antonelli signed the year before I got to Wake, but I had a chance to be around him a bit when he would return to Wake. He is a tireless worker and unbelievable athlete, I would expect good things from him with the Nationals.
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Mike Kickham Q&A - Ten Questions
San Francisco Giants prospect Mike Kickham is a left-handed pitcher currently with the San Jose Giants. He was drafted out of Missouri State in the sixth round of the 2010 draft. He's on Twitter, so go ahead and follow him.
Mike was nice enough to answer several questions:
1) Your twin brother, Dan, was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. Is there a big sibling rivalry there, especially with him being in the farm system of a rival team?
My brother did not sign and is playing at Missouri State this year. He's having a very good year so far and I hope to help him along as his baseball career progresses. We are very close and have always been very competitive growing up.
2) Are you focusing on anything specific at the moment (i.e. fastball velocity, developing a new pitch, etc.)?
During spring training I was really focusing on polishing my change and throwing it more consistently.
3) Missouri State has produced several major-league arms (Shaun Marcum, Brad Ziegler, etc.). Have you had any kind of contact with these guys?
Ziegler's around in the offseason quite a bit, however I haven't really chatted with him at length. However, I did get to pick Cole Hamels' mind this past offseason which I felt was very beneficial speaking to another lefty.
4) What would you say is your best secondary pitch? Curve? Slider? Change?
I'd have to say my go to secondary would be my slider, I feel that I can get most anyone out with that pitch, especially lefties.
5) The Giants' farm system has had a lot of success in developing pitchers in recent years. Was that something that you thought about when you came to the Giants?
Most definitely, this organization does an excellent job drafting and developing arms and now they have a ring to prove that. I was very excited to work with the same guys that developed Lincecum, Cain and Bumgarner. Those are guys you want to emulate.
6) You haven't pitched yet for the SJ Giants because of a blister, right? Is the Giants' farm system cursed? So many injuries...
Haha I hope not...it's frustrating that such a minuscule thing has cost me time with the team but I understand that it needs to fully heal so that it won't become a recurring issue throughout my career.
7) Do you envision yourself as a starter in the majors? Or might you go the path of a reliever?
I think of myself as a starter, I've always been one and like going 6-7 innings; but whatever role the organization wants to put me in and feels I'll be the most successful I will gladly do. I just enjoy competing and giving my team a chance to win.
8) What's it like playing with so many talented prospects in San Jose? Fun group of guys?
Great group in San Jose, with so much talent around I can learn from everyone, not just the pitchers. I can talk to the hitters about their at bats and get valuable information I can take with me out on the mound.
9) Scouting reports say your velocity tops out in the mid-90s. What's the hardest you've ever thrown?
Hardest I've ever thrown was 95
10) You played one year of D-1 college baseball, and you're now starting in high-A. Is this all happening too fast?
It has happened fast, but this is something I've always worked toward. I wouldn't have left school early unless I felt I was ready for the next step and I felt I was ready. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this organization and excited to keep working hard and keep working my way up to reach the ultimate goal.
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Mike was nice enough to answer several questions:
1) Your twin brother, Dan, was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. Is there a big sibling rivalry there, especially with him being in the farm system of a rival team?
My brother did not sign and is playing at Missouri State this year. He's having a very good year so far and I hope to help him along as his baseball career progresses. We are very close and have always been very competitive growing up.
2) Are you focusing on anything specific at the moment (i.e. fastball velocity, developing a new pitch, etc.)?
During spring training I was really focusing on polishing my change and throwing it more consistently.
3) Missouri State has produced several major-league arms (Shaun Marcum, Brad Ziegler, etc.). Have you had any kind of contact with these guys?
Ziegler's around in the offseason quite a bit, however I haven't really chatted with him at length. However, I did get to pick Cole Hamels' mind this past offseason which I felt was very beneficial speaking to another lefty.
4) What would you say is your best secondary pitch? Curve? Slider? Change?
I'd have to say my go to secondary would be my slider, I feel that I can get most anyone out with that pitch, especially lefties.
5) The Giants' farm system has had a lot of success in developing pitchers in recent years. Was that something that you thought about when you came to the Giants?
Most definitely, this organization does an excellent job drafting and developing arms and now they have a ring to prove that. I was very excited to work with the same guys that developed Lincecum, Cain and Bumgarner. Those are guys you want to emulate.
6) You haven't pitched yet for the SJ Giants because of a blister, right? Is the Giants' farm system cursed? So many injuries...
Haha I hope not...it's frustrating that such a minuscule thing has cost me time with the team but I understand that it needs to fully heal so that it won't become a recurring issue throughout my career.
7) Do you envision yourself as a starter in the majors? Or might you go the path of a reliever?
I think of myself as a starter, I've always been one and like going 6-7 innings; but whatever role the organization wants to put me in and feels I'll be the most successful I will gladly do. I just enjoy competing and giving my team a chance to win.
8) What's it like playing with so many talented prospects in San Jose? Fun group of guys?
Great group in San Jose, with so much talent around I can learn from everyone, not just the pitchers. I can talk to the hitters about their at bats and get valuable information I can take with me out on the mound.
9) Scouting reports say your velocity tops out in the mid-90s. What's the hardest you've ever thrown?
Hardest I've ever thrown was 95
10) You played one year of D-1 college baseball, and you're now starting in high-A. Is this all happening too fast?
It has happened fast, but this is something I've always worked toward. I wouldn't have left school early unless I felt I was ready for the next step and I felt I was ready. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this organization and excited to keep working hard and keep working my way up to reach the ultimate goal.
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Ten Questions with Thomas Neal of the San Francisco Giants
First, a little background information. Thomas Neal is widely considered to be one of the Giants' best prospects. In 136 games at AA Richmond last year, he posted a .291/.359/.440 slash line. He also hit 12 home runs, even though his ballpark is not exactly homer-friendly. Recently, Neal has become active on Twitter, under the username @TdaddyNeal (you should follow him if you aren't already doing so).
He was generous enough to participate in Ten Questions, and I hope you enjoy it. (Also, I recommend you watch Thomas Neal's interview with Mychael Urban before reading this.)
1. Do you have any specific goals set out for 2011?
I think my main goal this season is to put together consistent at bats when hitting with runners in scoring position, and Have Fun.
2. Who has been the greatest influence on your playing career?
My mom for sure. She has always been there for me and supported me my whole life. She did whatever she could possibly do to help me chase my dream. She drove me around to every city in california for baseball games. She went to every game, She did it all. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I'm at now.
3. How difficult was the transition from the California League to the Eastern League?
I think the biggest Transition for me was mentally. The guys were a lot smarter and they didn't make the same mistakes that often. You really have to have a consistent game plan and understand what your trying to do at the plate. Early on I didn't do a good job of that.
4. What are your thoughts on Brandon Belt and all of the hype surrounding him?
I think Belt is a great player. He can hit, plays good defensive, runs the bases well, He is a Good Baseball Player. The hype is well deserved, he dominated every level that he got a chance to play at.
5. So far, who's the toughest pitcher you've faced in your career?
Stuff wise I would have to go with Craig Italiano he played for the A's but he's with SD now.
6. In your interview with Mychael Urban, you said that your biggest focus is your mental game -- that you're physically ready to play in the majors, but you want to adjust your mental game. This is a more general question, but can you comment on the importance of mentality in baseball?
I think thats the difference between a Big Leaguer and Minor leaguer. Physically the ability for everyone is there. Its tough to stay mentally focus every day for 162 games but Big Leaguers are able to get lock in mentally every single day. While minor leaguers are trying to learn how to do that every single day and it can be tough.
7. Just out of curiosity, do you pay any attention to prospect rankings and write-ups, or do you just try to ignore those and focus on playing?
Its something I don't really pay attention to because I have no control over what people think or say. My main focus is to get better each day and be ready to step in with the Big League team when every my name is called upon.
8. Going into Spring Training, is it any different for you because you're now with the defending world champions?
Not really, because Im not going to spring training to try and win a job. I just want to learn as much as I can, and just show that I can compete at the Big League level.
9. You've played with many of the young Giants prospects and players -- like Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner. As a whole, how talented is this group of up-and-coming players in the Giants organization?
Very talented. I honestly can't put my finger on it but I really believe there is something special with this group. There are all different type of personality and everyone gets along. But when we are between the lines its tough to explain, but the best way I could put it is everyone on the field is on the same page and we expect to win.
10. Do you plan on maintaining an active Twitter account throughout the baseball season?
Well, I'm thinking about carrying my phone in my pocket instead of my batting gloves. So I could tweet during pitching changes instead of running all the way to CF to talk to Ford Lol. probably a bad idea tho. But I will be tweeting during the season maybe not as much but I will be active.
I'd like to once again thank Thomas Neal for taking the time to participate in this. He's an awesome guy, and I wish him the best of luck this season -- and hope to see him in the majors some time soon!
He was generous enough to participate in Ten Questions, and I hope you enjoy it. (Also, I recommend you watch Thomas Neal's interview with Mychael Urban before reading this.)
1. Do you have any specific goals set out for 2011?
I think my main goal this season is to put together consistent at bats when hitting with runners in scoring position, and Have Fun.
2. Who has been the greatest influence on your playing career?
My mom for sure. She has always been there for me and supported me my whole life. She did whatever she could possibly do to help me chase my dream. She drove me around to every city in california for baseball games. She went to every game, She did it all. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I'm at now.
3. How difficult was the transition from the California League to the Eastern League?
I think the biggest Transition for me was mentally. The guys were a lot smarter and they didn't make the same mistakes that often. You really have to have a consistent game plan and understand what your trying to do at the plate. Early on I didn't do a good job of that.
4. What are your thoughts on Brandon Belt and all of the hype surrounding him?
I think Belt is a great player. He can hit, plays good defensive, runs the bases well, He is a Good Baseball Player. The hype is well deserved, he dominated every level that he got a chance to play at.
5. So far, who's the toughest pitcher you've faced in your career?
Stuff wise I would have to go with Craig Italiano he played for the A's but he's with SD now.
6. In your interview with Mychael Urban, you said that your biggest focus is your mental game -- that you're physically ready to play in the majors, but you want to adjust your mental game. This is a more general question, but can you comment on the importance of mentality in baseball?
I think thats the difference between a Big Leaguer and Minor leaguer. Physically the ability for everyone is there. Its tough to stay mentally focus every day for 162 games but Big Leaguers are able to get lock in mentally every single day. While minor leaguers are trying to learn how to do that every single day and it can be tough.
7. Just out of curiosity, do you pay any attention to prospect rankings and write-ups, or do you just try to ignore those and focus on playing?
Its something I don't really pay attention to because I have no control over what people think or say. My main focus is to get better each day and be ready to step in with the Big League team when every my name is called upon.
8. Going into Spring Training, is it any different for you because you're now with the defending world champions?
Not really, because Im not going to spring training to try and win a job. I just want to learn as much as I can, and just show that I can compete at the Big League level.
9. You've played with many of the young Giants prospects and players -- like Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner. As a whole, how talented is this group of up-and-coming players in the Giants organization?
Very talented. I honestly can't put my finger on it but I really believe there is something special with this group. There are all different type of personality and everyone gets along. But when we are between the lines its tough to explain, but the best way I could put it is everyone on the field is on the same page and we expect to win.
10. Do you plan on maintaining an active Twitter account throughout the baseball season?
Well, I'm thinking about carrying my phone in my pocket instead of my batting gloves. So I could tweet during pitching changes instead of running all the way to CF to talk to Ford Lol. probably a bad idea tho. But I will be tweeting during the season maybe not as much but I will be active.
I'd like to once again thank Thomas Neal for taking the time to participate in this. He's an awesome guy, and I wish him the best of luck this season -- and hope to see him in the majors some time soon!
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