Results tagged ‘ Oakland ’
Docking With The Ports–Michael Spina
Fans probably best remember Michael Spina for leading the Ports in Home Runs in 2010. Now see what Michael has been up to when he’s not hitting bombs out of Banner Island Ballpark!
Q: What
are you up to in the off-season?
A: I am spending a lot of time with my family that I don’t get to
do during the season that I am away. I like to go fishing a lot. I am now
training and working out and getting ready for spring training.
Q: What
is your daily routine like in the off-season compared to during the season?
A: Well I don’t get to sleep in as much in the off season as I do
during the season. I live in Florida so I am able to run outside unlike others
in the country. So I wake up about 7 in the morning go for a run then I go to
the gym. I then eat lunch then I go and hit and take ground balls. After that I
usually do some kind of agility work. I do this Monday-Friday and off on the
weekends.
Q: What
did you miss most when you were away during the season?
A: I miss playing against other teams. I love to play baseball so
I really miss that.
Q: What
non-baseball activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
A: I like to do anything outdoors but I really like to fish and
hunt and I do it a lot in the off season.
Q: What
are your goals for 2011?
A: My goals this year is to be hopefully moved up to Double-A and
have an even better year than I did this past year. It was my first full season
so I understand my body and what it takes to get through the whole year of 140
plus games. I want to have more home runs and more RBIs this year coming
up because that’s the type of hitter I am and what it’s going to take for me to
get to the big leagues.
Q: What is your plan post-baseball?
A:Well hopefully I won’t have to think about this for a long time
down the road but I have my degree in criminal justice so I will do something
with that in that field.
Q: What did you enjoy about your time
in Stockton?
A: I loved the stadium we had the nicest stadium I think in the California
league and I enjoyed playing at home on the nice playing surface.
Q: Do you
keep in touch with any of your Ports teammates?
A: Yes I do! I stay in touch with Jeremy Barfield and Tyler Ladendorf.
And I chat with others on Facebook staying in touch.
Favorite Restaurant in Stockton: BJ’S
Best Minor League Stadium: Banner Island Ball Park
Best Minor League City: San Jose is probably a Big
league city so much to do and its pretty fun. Unfortunately we didn’t stay
there but was fortunate enough to go there a couple times.
Best Moment in Stockton: Going
on a trip during the all star break to Lake Tahoe. It was beautiful and
something I never experienced before. Very Nice!!
Docking With The Ports–Tim Garland
Throughout the off-season, the front office will be checking in with some
of your favorite players from the 2010 Ports.
Q: What are you up to in the off-season?
A: Staying busy as The Owner of 2 Barber Shops Salons’ Heavy Hitters Barber
Shops #1 & #2. Also doing work on my rental properties.
Q: What is your daily routine like in
the off-season compared to during the season?
A: During the winter I still get up
early to go to the gym like during the season. I try to get a lot more fishing
in during the off-season. I get to bed a lot earlier now that there are no 7:05
games and reports to do after.
Q: What did you
miss most when you were away during the season?
A:
I miss going to the ball park everyday and working with the hitters and
outfielders. I miss the Fans of Stockton.
Q: What
non-baseball activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
A:
I like to fish. I like to take driving trips and listen to R&B music. I
also like spending time doing yard work at my house.
Q: Where will
you be for the 2011 season?
A:
I will be in Midland, Texas.
Q: What would
you be doing if you weren’t coaching?
A:
I would probably own more small business and a building contractor.
Q: What did you
enjoy about your time in Stockton?
A:I
enjoyed the nice weather. I enjoyed working with the Ports Front Office. The
Beautiful stadium that the Ports have. How convenient everything was for us
there.
Q: What has been
your biggest accomplishment as a coach?
A:
Just helping the guys become better men 1st and then better Hitters.
Q: What is the
best piece of advice you could give to your players?
A:
Never quit. Nobody likes a quitter. Hard work pays off. You will get out what
you put into it. Play every game like it’s your last game.
Q: Best
Restaurant in Stockton?
A:
Best Restaurant is that Chinese place by the Mall. I loved going there when i
could crush the all you could eat Crab Legs.
Q: Best Minor
League Stadium?
A:
Best Stadium is the Ports Stadium.
Q: Best Minor
League City?
A:
Best City Is Stockton.
Q: Best Baseball
Moment in Stockton?
A:
Best Moment was winning the 2008 Championship.
Docking With The Ports–10 Questions for Tyson Ross
Q: How does pitching at Banner Island compare to the
other parks you have pitched at?
A: In my past I have usually been fortunate
to have my home field be a pitcher friendly park. Pitching at Banner Island
is a little bit different with the short left field line and the Jackson
Rancheria in right where the wind always seems to be blowing out. I think it
made me a better pitcher, teaching me to keep the ball down in the zone and
work to get ground balls.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or weird baseball superstitions?
A: I don’t have any specific game day
rituals, but in Stockton I would regularly walk to the corner store down the
street to get some ice cream after BP before the game on a hot day.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this coming
season?
A: I’m really looking forward to getting
back out on the mound and pitching.
Q: What is your daily routine like in the off-season?
A: I wake up, make breakfast, go workout,
throw. Then head home and relax, either watch movies, go to Warriors games or
just hang out.
Q: Did you go on any trips this off-season?
A: Yes I went to Peru for 10 days in early
November.
Q: What is your favorite thing about playing baseball for
a living?
A: I really enjoy the travel, being able to see new places that I wouldn’t
normally get the opportunity to visit if it wasn’t for baseball.
Q: What was your fondest memory playing at Banner Island
Ballpark?
A: Winning the Cal League championship in
2008!
Q: What advice would you give young athletes?
A: To believe in yourself, and never give
up.
Q: What was the most difficult part of your transition
from a pitcher at Cal to the minors?
A: The lifestyle in the pro’s is
drastically different. In college I was used to pitching once a week and only
having 4 games a week. In pro ball you play every day and the travel is a lot
more challenging.
Q: After you career as a pitcher is over, what do you see
yourself doing?
A: I will go back to
school and finish getting my degree from Cal.
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