11/25: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Eric Schultz, Pending Pinstripes
Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview is with Eric Schultz of Pending Pinstripes.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I'm a sophomore at Amherst College, majoring in political science. Aside from schoolwork, I play on the ultimate Frisbee team and am involved in various clubs and organizations. I enjoy reading, following politics and watching sports (especially the Yankees and the New York Giants).
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I've been blogging with MVN since June and I had another blog, called Yanks and More, for a few months before then.
How did you end up blogging at MVN?
They were looking for a fill-in writer because EJ Fagan (my current co-writer) was going to be away for the summer. As someone who enjoys getting my opinion out onto the blogosphere and a big fan of Pending Pinstripes, I decided to apply and give it a shot.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The best part is definitely the internet community that the blog creates, which allows a group of dedicated fans to share their opinions and update each other on breaking news. I also like being able to express my opinion in a public setting and let it get critiqued by other people who are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. There's no real downside to blogging, although at times it can be difficult to find fresh and exciting content.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
There are so many people doing great work, that I can't get to them all. The guys over at our sister site, The Bronx Block, do a great job of covering the stories surrounding the major league club. River Ave. Blues is another great site and they do great writing about both the big league and minor league players (reading their minor league writer Mike A's old blog In George We Trust got me excited about following the minor leagues). Peter Abraham's blog is great for hearing breaking news and updates on big stories and he works very hard to share any information he can get about the Yankees out to his readers before any other news outlet. Chad Jennings' Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees blog is great for minor league news as well.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I really started following the Yankees for real in the fall of '95, as they made their exciting run to the playoffs in what turned out to be Don Mattingly's last season. I remember going to game 1 of the division series with my father, sitting in the right field bleachers and not being able to see anything as the Bleacher Creatures were going wild after Wade Boggs' home run. I also remember crying my eyes out after Edgar Martinez's double in game 5 off Jack McDowell won the series for the Mariners.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
My father is a huge Yankee fan and I inherited it from him.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
I have always had two favorite Yankees since I first started following them. I initially identified with Paul O'Neill and Andy Pettitte because both of them are left handed like me. While that initial reason was quite superficial, I grew to love them for the intensity that they displayed, both on the field and off. I have always loved watching Andy's intimidating stare under the bill of his pulled-down cap. I always forgave Paulie for every time he threw his bat, slammed his batting helmet or smashed a water cooler. I loved him for showing his emotion because I knew that it meant he cared so much about succeeding.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I have tremendous respect for Brian Cashman for putting up with Steinbrenner for all these years and taking the organization in a new, younger direction. I admire his determination to protect the young talent that the Yankees have amassed and not trade it away in a desperate attempt to win now. He is still using the Yankees' financial muscle to their advantage by investing heavily in the draft and Latin American free agents, but he has learned that expensive free agent signings are not always the best answer. Damon Oppenheimer has done a great job in recent years of restocking the Yankees' farm system and minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras has done some amazing work with our young arms.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Not as often as I would like to, maybe 3 games a year.
Excluding our own guys, who is a free agent that you'd like to see the Yankees sign?
The Yankees don't have too many holes left with the re-signings of Posada, Mariano and A-Rod, but the bullpen still needs a few more reliable arms. I'd love to see them go after a solid lefty such as Ron Mahay or Jeremy Affeldt, or maybe take a flier on Kerry Wood with an incentive-laden contract. There are some decent bullpen options coming over from Japan this offseason as well that could be worth a look, such as Yasushiko Yabuta or Masahide Kobayashi, who could help give the Yankees some experience in the 'pen. Japanese starter Hireki Kuroda has legitimate stuff and could be an interesting option if Andy Pettitte does not return.
What would you break the Hughes, Joba and Ian trio up for?
In my heart I would say nobody, as it has been so much fun to follow these guys since they were drafted and watch them rise up through the farm to potentially become great major league pitchers. I have hope that they can become the next Mulder, Hudson, Zito or perhaps even Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz. There is nothing more exciting than watching young, home-grown players succeed at the big league level and improve. That said, my brain would have trouble turning down a deal for an established ace, especially a left-handed one, such as Santana, Sabathia or Kazmir, with proven success in the AL.
Being someone who closely follows the minor leagues, what players without MLB experience do you think will impact the major league club in 2008?
Alan Horne and Jeff Marquez are two talented pitchers who put up great numbers this season in Trenton and could be next in line for some starts if there are any injuries to the rotation. Cuban first baseman Juan Miranda has legitimate pop and could be in line for some at bats at designated hitter/first base if Jason Giambi continues to struggle with his health. Brett Gardner is a pesky, speedy centerfielder who could bring some energy and excitement to the Yankees off the bench as a fourth outfielder or as a fill-in in case of injury. He has no power to speak of, but he can bunt for hits, draw walks and play good defense in centerfield.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Give me Robbie Cano. When he's dialed in, he takes such a great approach at the plate and he can hit to all fields with power. He doesn't try to do too much up there and his plate discipline (although it is still lacking) has improved. If he can avoid the slow starts that have plagued him the last 2 seasons, I believe Canó is in line for a huge season.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I'm a sophomore at Amherst College, majoring in political science. Aside from schoolwork, I play on the ultimate Frisbee team and am involved in various clubs and organizations. I enjoy reading, following politics and watching sports (especially the Yankees and the New York Giants).
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I've been blogging with MVN since June and I had another blog, called Yanks and More, for a few months before then.
How did you end up blogging at MVN?
They were looking for a fill-in writer because EJ Fagan (my current co-writer) was going to be away for the summer. As someone who enjoys getting my opinion out onto the blogosphere and a big fan of Pending Pinstripes, I decided to apply and give it a shot.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The best part is definitely the internet community that the blog creates, which allows a group of dedicated fans to share their opinions and update each other on breaking news. I also like being able to express my opinion in a public setting and let it get critiqued by other people who are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. There's no real downside to blogging, although at times it can be difficult to find fresh and exciting content.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
There are so many people doing great work, that I can't get to them all. The guys over at our sister site, The Bronx Block, do a great job of covering the stories surrounding the major league club. River Ave. Blues is another great site and they do great writing about both the big league and minor league players (reading their minor league writer Mike A's old blog In George We Trust got me excited about following the minor leagues). Peter Abraham's blog is great for hearing breaking news and updates on big stories and he works very hard to share any information he can get about the Yankees out to his readers before any other news outlet. Chad Jennings' Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees blog is great for minor league news as well.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I really started following the Yankees for real in the fall of '95, as they made their exciting run to the playoffs in what turned out to be Don Mattingly's last season. I remember going to game 1 of the division series with my father, sitting in the right field bleachers and not being able to see anything as the Bleacher Creatures were going wild after Wade Boggs' home run. I also remember crying my eyes out after Edgar Martinez's double in game 5 off Jack McDowell won the series for the Mariners.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
My father is a huge Yankee fan and I inherited it from him.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
I have always had two favorite Yankees since I first started following them. I initially identified with Paul O'Neill and Andy Pettitte because both of them are left handed like me. While that initial reason was quite superficial, I grew to love them for the intensity that they displayed, both on the field and off. I have always loved watching Andy's intimidating stare under the bill of his pulled-down cap. I always forgave Paulie for every time he threw his bat, slammed his batting helmet or smashed a water cooler. I loved him for showing his emotion because I knew that it meant he cared so much about succeeding.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I have tremendous respect for Brian Cashman for putting up with Steinbrenner for all these years and taking the organization in a new, younger direction. I admire his determination to protect the young talent that the Yankees have amassed and not trade it away in a desperate attempt to win now. He is still using the Yankees' financial muscle to their advantage by investing heavily in the draft and Latin American free agents, but he has learned that expensive free agent signings are not always the best answer. Damon Oppenheimer has done a great job in recent years of restocking the Yankees' farm system and minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras has done some amazing work with our young arms.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Not as often as I would like to, maybe 3 games a year.
Excluding our own guys, who is a free agent that you'd like to see the Yankees sign?
The Yankees don't have too many holes left with the re-signings of Posada, Mariano and A-Rod, but the bullpen still needs a few more reliable arms. I'd love to see them go after a solid lefty such as Ron Mahay or Jeremy Affeldt, or maybe take a flier on Kerry Wood with an incentive-laden contract. There are some decent bullpen options coming over from Japan this offseason as well that could be worth a look, such as Yasushiko Yabuta or Masahide Kobayashi, who could help give the Yankees some experience in the 'pen. Japanese starter Hireki Kuroda has legitimate stuff and could be an interesting option if Andy Pettitte does not return.
What would you break the Hughes, Joba and Ian trio up for?
In my heart I would say nobody, as it has been so much fun to follow these guys since they were drafted and watch them rise up through the farm to potentially become great major league pitchers. I have hope that they can become the next Mulder, Hudson, Zito or perhaps even Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz. There is nothing more exciting than watching young, home-grown players succeed at the big league level and improve. That said, my brain would have trouble turning down a deal for an established ace, especially a left-handed one, such as Santana, Sabathia or Kazmir, with proven success in the AL.
Being someone who closely follows the minor leagues, what players without MLB experience do you think will impact the major league club in 2008?
Alan Horne and Jeff Marquez are two talented pitchers who put up great numbers this season in Trenton and could be next in line for some starts if there are any injuries to the rotation. Cuban first baseman Juan Miranda has legitimate pop and could be in line for some at bats at designated hitter/first base if Jason Giambi continues to struggle with his health. Brett Gardner is a pesky, speedy centerfielder who could bring some energy and excitement to the Yankees off the bench as a fourth outfielder or as a fill-in in case of injury. He has no power to speak of, but he can bunt for hits, draw walks and play good defense in centerfield.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Give me Robbie Cano. When he's dialed in, he takes such a great approach at the plate and he can hit to all fields with power. He doesn't try to do too much up there and his plate discipline (although it is still lacking) has improved. If he can avoid the slow starts that have plagued him the last 2 seasons, I believe Canó is in line for a huge season.
James wrote: