But to top it off, Neshek strikes a particular chord with bloggers for his online accessibility: encouraging people to send in for autographs and trade cards, running his own blog, and even launching his own online campaign for the All-Star vote a couple years back. I'm sure everyone has already checked out his website, but if not, make sure to bookmark it. But enough rambling, I'll let Pat speak for himself, just enjoy the survey and revel in the taste of spring training just around the bend! (I've changed around some of my standard questions...)
Personal-
WEBSITE: www.neshek.com
BIRTHDAY: 9/4/80
HOMETOWN: Madison, WI
FAVORITE COLOR: Forest Green
FAVORITE FOOD: Pad Thai
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Pianist
FAVORITE BOOK: All Quiet On The Western Front
FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC: Metal - Metalcore
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH OTHER THAN BASEBALL: College Basketball, NHL
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY OTHER THAN BASEBALL: Hockey
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE VIKINGS/TIMBERWOLVES/WILD: I don't watch football, No KG no watching for me, went up to Tampa last week and watched the Wild lose & it wasn't fun
General Baseball-
WHAT MAKES BASEBALL SO GREAT TO YOU: It's got a little of everything in life and it's a game anyone can relate to or play.
IF YOU HAD TO FOLLOW ANOTHER TEAM, WHICH AND WHY: The Pirates, I liked watching Garrett Jones hit bombs this year
BEST EXPERIENCE AT A BALLPARK OTHER THAN THE DOME: 7/7/06, my mlb debut in Arlington, Texas
FAVORITE PLACE TO PLAY ON THE ROAD: I like Oakland & KC
ANY BAD EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD?: Just being away from home isn't fun
OPINION ON INTERLEAGE PLAY: Like it, they need to switch it up so we play every team in the NL ... seems like we get the same teams back every couple years.
OPINION ON THE UNBALANCED SCHEDULE: I like it, I would like to play our division just a little less and play other teams outside the division more.
FAVORITE NON-TWINS PLAYER IN BASEBALL HISTORY: Rusty Meacham, he was an autograph machine
LEAST FAVORITE PLAYER IN BASEBALL HISTORY: Shawn Green, when I was 15 at the dome he was throwing a ball to a kid my age and I jumped in front of him and stole it. He yelled at me. The next inning he threw the kid a ball again and snarled at me. The next day I went for his autograph in the front row and he took my pen, signed for 10 different people and gave me my pen back at the end and smiled ... When I faced him in '07 I wanted to bean him but I didn't do it, I think I went full count on him then he ripped a liner into center ... I wanted the pitch back.
WHAT OTHER POSITIONS DID YOU PLAY GROWING UP: SS
WHAT COACHES/PLAYERS HAVE HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON YOU DEVELOPING: Probably my high school coach Jeff Stoll, my dad, my summer HS coach Pete Lacock and my college coach Steve Farley
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE BUTLER FOR COLLEGE: Offered a Full Scholarship during the 1st signing period, they said I would be a starter and get over 50 innings ... Couldn't turn that down.
Twins Generic-
WHEN DID YOU BECOME A TWINS FAN AND WHY: Probably when I went to my 1st game in 1985
WHAT WAS DRAFT DAY LIKE FOR YOU BACK IN '02: I just remember being angry as the rounds went by ... then in the 6th round I said if I didn't get picked I probably will not sign ... lucky for me I was picked. I just couldn't believe some of the names picked ahead of me. I want to find all those scouts now and laugh in their faces, I think the draft is a joke and there are tons of guys that never get a fair shake.
BEST EXPERIENCE AT THE DOME: Too many, I love that place
BEST EXPERIENCE AT TWINS FEST/WINTER CARAVAN: Getting invited in 2002 after the draft ... I wanted to walk out because they had me signing with Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones ... I was like "why did I sign up for this", nobody knows who I am.
WHAT WAS SPRING TRAINING LIKE BEFORE YOU HIT THE MAJORS: Minor league spring training is short but the days go forever. My first mlb spring training was fun because you got a little bit more respect and felt like you deserved to be there. Basically to me it was my chance to show everyone what I had.
HOW HAS IT CHANGED SINCE YOU'VE MADE THE MAJORS: It's a lot more relaxed because people know who you are and what you can do and you don't have to worry about getting cut for the most part.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MOMENTS THAT STILL STICK WITH YOU FROM THE MINORS: Once again too many ... Basically every emotions you can think of you go through. There's lots of self doubt, there's absolute excitement and happiness ... I'll always remember the times getting called up. Probably the biggest memory I will remember is getting sent down in 2004 and how mad it made me feel.
Player Specific-
FAVORITE TWINS PLAYER IN HISTORY: Puckett
DID YOU EVER MEET ANY PLAYERS GROWING UP: I met most of the teams but my favorite was meeting Puckett in 1985 and getting his autograph
PLAYER YOU'D MOST LIKE TO WATCH A GAME WITH: Tony Gwynn
PLAYER YOU'D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Carlos Silva because he eats a ton and always pays for the meal!
PLAYERS YOU'D WANT TO BE THE FRONT MEN OF YOUR NEW BAND: All the sidearm guys in the league, Joe Smith, Cla Meredith and submariner Darren O'Day
PLAYER YOU'D ASK FOR HELP ON A SCIENCE LAB: Slowey
DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ANY FORMER TWINS PLAYERS WHO'VE MOVED ON: Mostly on facebook
EXPECTATIONS OF TARGET FIELD: It will be nice having new things like the clubhouse and the weight room but it's going to be too cold for me to like it.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEAM NEXT YEAR: Win the division again
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A huge thanks to Pat for closing out our Get to Know 'Em offseason series! What a team we have when players take time like this for their fans!
I will actually have one final Get to Know 'Em post on Monday. I've caved to pressure and will subject myself to answering my own survey...
Yay Pat Neshek!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to get to know Pat a little bit better.
ReplyDelete