A few words from Matt Wieters
I stopped by Matt Wieters' locker this morning and thought you might want to eavesdrop on our conversation.
"It was a quick offseason," Wieters said, "but at the same time, you've always got that itch to get back here and get to see guys you haven't seen for a little while and get back to playing this game that you love."
I asked Wieters if it felt different being here with one spring training under his belt.
"You know more people and you played with more guys. It's a different feeling, definitely, but it's just as exciting as last year. I'm ready to go."
I asked Wieters about being mentored by Gregg Zaun.
"As catchers, you can talk about a lot of things that go on in this game. We have a lot of different veteran guys in here and I'm sure to draw something from each of them."
Did he accomplish everything he wanted last year?
"There's always more you wish that you had done and you're always going to expect more, but last year was a good year. Most importantly, I stayed healthy the whole year and was able to get a full season in."
What about living up to all the hype that's building around him?
"I think you take it as a compliment, but you've got to have expectations that are even going to exceed those and you've got to work hard so you can meet them. And if you're doing that, working hard every day so you can get to where you want to be, you'll be able to sleep at night."
I asked him about the Orioles' perception that he needs more experience calling a game.
"It's definitely something you're going to have to learn at the different levels as you move up. But once you do learn it, you're going to keep learning all the new hitters that come in. And hitters are going to change and pitchers are going to change, so you've got to learn what the pitchers want to do and what the hitters want to do. It's something that's going to be a learning experience throughout your career."
And if the Orioles assign him to Triple-A Norfolk?
"You come here trying to work hard and trying to get better. The good thing is, I'll be playing baseball someplace this year and that's what I love doing. You've got to understand their situation, but at the same time, where they put you really isn't your choice, so you've got to go out and make the best of it."
It made sense for me to slide over to the next locker and ask Zaun about the mentoring process.
"I'm here to make myself available, but it's really going to be him who dictates the pace of our relationship. I'm hoping he'll be inquisitive. I'm here to answer questions. I'm not the coach yet, so I go out and do my thing and I'm here to answer any questions that could possibly come up on any aspect of the game. We just met. We're going to develop a relationship and let it play out, see how it goes."
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Heck of a way to put us to bed, Roch. Just when I thought there was nothing more for the night. Nice, informative Q&A. I sure look forward to watching him in the spring games.
What's your opinion on what happens if he devastates the Grapefruit League, and the O's have no choice but to bring him North?
Has Crash Davis been mentoring him on his interviewing techniques? Damn, those were some good responses...
Maybe something about the "good lord willing..." would have been a good touch.
oh. i just so heart the two of them. i am so excited for this season to start. hell, i don't care if they finish the same as last season, i'm so excited for the POSSIBILITIES!!!! and until we are mathmematically eliminated (hopefully later rather than sooner), i will still hold out hope for this team. once we ARE mathematically eliminated, i will simply (as i do every late summer/early fall) wait for the tropical storms to do what i've asked them to do since i lived in florida. take out TB (even if TB = tuberculosis, that's bad, too), BOS, and send a freak tornado thru NYC. if that leaves us fighting for the wild card... meh, i'm good with it. :)
you say i'm crazy. i GOT your crazy.
Hey Roch,
I always thought Gregg Zaun's hockey style catchers mask was cool because it had the Blue Jays logo all over it.
Is he using a Hockey Style catchers mask with Orioles logos all over it, or just the normal catchers mask?
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Haven't seen his mask, but I'm guessing it's too early for him to have a customized Orioles mask. - Roch
And as Matt gets experience at catching, hopefully he'll get some at answering your questions.
I like Zaun's answer. Right to the point without actually saying it. Gregg is here to play, not to be a coach.
Pretty amazing how we've wound up with Weiters and Flacco at the same time. Both are really mature for their age and have their heads on straight. Weiters isn't going to face the same pressure here as he would in other big cities so he should relax and advance faster.I hope his major league debut is at CY so they have a full house.Hope he can handle all the flashbulbs popping.lol.
Good stuff Roch...I just read all your words from yesterday...none of it came in on my computer all day or night...refreash refresh and nothing...now all were there this morning...weird...can't wait to here more today...enjoying your work and the weather?
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You know it's bad when the easiest part begins after my plane finally lands. - Roch
Well, if calling the game is the ´problem´, let us live with that. He will bring a little bit of offense to make up for that. By miles!
Roch,
Great reporting as usual. We have come to depend on you for the scoop at the player level.
I am getting mixed feelings both from Zaun and Weiters. Sounds like zaun is not as quick to mentor Weiters. He definitely doesnt have the Millar type attitude. I think he knows the less that Weiters knows the longer he stays as the starter. I was never really big on zaun because at best he has always been a backup. But he thinks he is the next Mauer.
As with Weiters, I watched the boy play every game at Bowie. Before and after the game he was real stand off in his personality, even to the kids calling his name behind the dugout. I dont think he is going to bond with zaun. Two different type personalities for sure. He has learned to say what is politically correct instead of what is on his mind for sure. You can tell his answers in this posting are pre thought out.
Does it matter if he starts the year in Baltimore? NO
Because the only pitcher who will be here down the road is Guthrie. But again, as ANDREW said, we have improved? WHERE besides defensively at shortstop. But we are saving money for future years.....LOL yeah right!
THANKS PETE
If he asks a question I'll answer it, if not....
That's a new perspective on mentoring. You're right Zaun, just do your thing... Just keep your freaking checkbook away from the clubhouse.
I adore him for saying that he needs to make sure he always sets goals above and beyond the expectations that fans and scouts put on him... but is Matt aware that he's already expected to walk on water?! That's a pretty tough act to TOP...unless he's able to break a couple of hot dogs and a single beer into a meal to feed 40,000.
And I like Zaun's attitude! He SHOULD be there to help out whatever way he can, but it's Matt's job to ask him the questions and pick his brain and Gregg will leave it open for the picking.
Roch:
Good stuff. Can't wait to hear more. Glad to hear you've recovered from JET-LAG. Can't wait for your opinion on the new pitchers progress along with those coming back from injuries. Keep up the great work.
JO
Maybe I'm a pessimist, maybe it's because of Tex, but as I read this piece, I developed a very bad feeling that Boars already has this guy earmarked for NY in 6-7 years. I know prudence dictates that the O's can't offer him a 10 year deal before he's even played in a big league game, but each day that goes by without such a deal increases the likelihood that he leaves B'more in a few years. He just sounds like a robot, er a well (media) coached and savvy young man who is already counting the days until he gets to sign a $180M contract. Sorry for the pessimistic point of view - I know it's spring training.
Zaun's mask is customized already. It's a black and orange hockey-style mask. I saw it on a picture on the baltimore sun website.
re: Zaun--- Besides a custom O's mask he also needs to change the colors on his website from Blue Jay blue to Oriole orange!
This is my pet peeve. I think its entertaining when athletes refer to themselves in the third person. Its amusing. It really gets under my skin when they inappropriately refer to themselves using the second person. For example, "...where they put you really isn't your choice, so you've got to go out and make the best of it." Where they put ME? I know where I will be. I will be on my couch drinking beer. Where are YOU going to be?
"you've always got that itch to get back here and get to see guys you haven't seen for a little while". If I have an itch, I scratch it and I've never met anyone of those guys. What was YOUR off season like?
I haven't seen someone abuse the improper second person as much since Cal Ripken.
Am I the only one?