12/15: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Andrew Fletcher, Scott Proctor's Arm
Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview is with Andrew Fletcher, prolific blogger at Scott Proctor's Arm.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I'm a junior print journalism major at Quinnipiac University, so I'm trying to graduate and get a job in the field. I also work for the school's newspaper, The Quinnipiac Chronicle, and have been a summer camp counselor for the last five years. I'm also a huge New York Giants fan.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I started Scott Proctor's Arm on May 26, 2007. I had no idea I'd still be doing it to this day. It's been a lot of fun.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
I've wanted to be a writer for a long time, so it's given me a lot of experience writing about something I love. It also gives me an excuse to follow baseball with such a keen eye and not look like a geek. It's my reasoning for sitting at the computer for long periods of time. On the other side of that, sometimes it's hard coming up with things to write, especially since the Winter Meetings concluded. During this time, you're at the mercy of the professionals, and now they're starting to go on vacation.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
YanksBlog, of course, as well as River Ave. Blues, Sliding Into Home, Confessions of a She-Fan, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS... caught, Was Watching, My Pinstripes, noMaas and Bronx Banter. I also enjoy reading the beat writers' blogs, and I know we're talking about Yankees blogs, but my roommate has a terrific Mets blog called The 'Ropolitans. I have 125 subscriptions in my Google Reader so I read many things each day and chances are your blog is in there.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I'm only 20, so one of my earliest memories is the 1996 World Series. I was only 8 at the time. Since then, I've been hooked on baseball and the Yankees.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Yes, my entire extended family consists of Yankees fans, so I really had no choice but to be a Yankees fan. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I went to my first game in 1997 with my family. Roger Clemens, with the Blue Jays at the time, won his 200th game that night.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
I'd have to say Derek Jeter. I've grown up watching him play and I've always said the first time I'll feel old is when he retires. He plays the game the right way, and while it's so cliché to say, he really does represent the pinstripes the right way and knows what it means to be a Yankee.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I wouldn't say I admire anyone, but I think we're lucky as fans to have such a devoted and focused ownership. While other teams are trying to cut costs, the Yankees are out there spending over $200 million to improve the team.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
I've had an eight-game package in the upper deck behind the plate the last two years. They were the best seats in the house. I'm not sure what I'll be doing in the new stadium.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
It'll be nice to have wider concourses and more bathrooms, but I'm not looking forward to that monstrosity in center field (that restaurant thing is going to obscure many in the bleachers), fewer seats overall and the pushing back of the upper deck. Like I said in the previous question, my upper deck seats were great. Even though we were up high, it still seemed like you were on top of the action. And I haven't even mentioned the price of tickets and food.
With CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett signed, what else do you think the Yankees should do this offseason?
The Yankees need to upgrade their offense, and trading for Mike Cameron isn't what I'm talking about. I know he's a controversial figure around here, but Manny Ramirez would fit into this lineup like a glove.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
In the past it was Derek Jeter. In the 2007 regular season, it was Alex Rodriguez. No one would get a clutch hit last year. It's a tough question. Can I say none of the above? I'll take Nick Swisher, just because he's new and I don't have any preconceived notions.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I'm a junior print journalism major at Quinnipiac University, so I'm trying to graduate and get a job in the field. I also work for the school's newspaper, The Quinnipiac Chronicle, and have been a summer camp counselor for the last five years. I'm also a huge New York Giants fan.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
I started Scott Proctor's Arm on May 26, 2007. I had no idea I'd still be doing it to this day. It's been a lot of fun.
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
I've wanted to be a writer for a long time, so it's given me a lot of experience writing about something I love. It also gives me an excuse to follow baseball with such a keen eye and not look like a geek. It's my reasoning for sitting at the computer for long periods of time. On the other side of that, sometimes it's hard coming up with things to write, especially since the Winter Meetings concluded. During this time, you're at the mercy of the professionals, and now they're starting to go on vacation.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
YanksBlog, of course, as well as River Ave. Blues, Sliding Into Home, Confessions of a She-Fan, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS... caught, Was Watching, My Pinstripes, noMaas and Bronx Banter. I also enjoy reading the beat writers' blogs, and I know we're talking about Yankees blogs, but my roommate has a terrific Mets blog called The 'Ropolitans. I have 125 subscriptions in my Google Reader so I read many things each day and chances are your blog is in there.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I'm only 20, so one of my earliest memories is the 1996 World Series. I was only 8 at the time. Since then, I've been hooked on baseball and the Yankees.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Yes, my entire extended family consists of Yankees fans, so I really had no choice but to be a Yankees fan. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I went to my first game in 1997 with my family. Roger Clemens, with the Blue Jays at the time, won his 200th game that night.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
I'd have to say Derek Jeter. I've grown up watching him play and I've always said the first time I'll feel old is when he retires. He plays the game the right way, and while it's so cliché to say, he really does represent the pinstripes the right way and knows what it means to be a Yankee.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I wouldn't say I admire anyone, but I think we're lucky as fans to have such a devoted and focused ownership. While other teams are trying to cut costs, the Yankees are out there spending over $200 million to improve the team.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
I've had an eight-game package in the upper deck behind the plate the last two years. They were the best seats in the house. I'm not sure what I'll be doing in the new stadium.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
It'll be nice to have wider concourses and more bathrooms, but I'm not looking forward to that monstrosity in center field (that restaurant thing is going to obscure many in the bleachers), fewer seats overall and the pushing back of the upper deck. Like I said in the previous question, my upper deck seats were great. Even though we were up high, it still seemed like you were on top of the action. And I haven't even mentioned the price of tickets and food.
With CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett signed, what else do you think the Yankees should do this offseason?
The Yankees need to upgrade their offense, and trading for Mike Cameron isn't what I'm talking about. I know he's a controversial figure around here, but Manny Ramirez would fit into this lineup like a glove.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
In the past it was Derek Jeter. In the 2007 regular season, it was Alex Rodriguez. No one would get a clutch hit last year. It's a tough question. Can I say none of the above? I'll take Nick Swisher, just because he's new and I don't have any preconceived notions.
Drew wrote: