1) What do you remember about your draft day experience? Did you expect to go to the Expos?
Well the day of the draft I skipped school and I had some of my friends and my highschool coach over to the house and we watched the draft on the computer. I really didn't have a clue when I was going to get drafted or if I even was going to get drafted, so we all just watched the screen waiting for my name to get called. My cell phone rang and it was my agent and he said did you hear that buddy you did it, I was like what do you mean and he said you got drafted and said just watch and ill call you back. So we waited and they said Detroit Tigers take a 6'5" pitcher out of CA Collin Mahoney and everyone cheered after they heard Collin and then kinda felt bad for me after the Mahoney part, then I thought my agent was crazy but then a couple picks later the Expos drafted me and every one was super happy and that was the best day of my life till I made my MLB debut. As for part 2 of that question, if you told me the Expos were going to draft me before the draft I would have said your crazy because they might have been the one team that I really didn't talk to very much.
2) What were your initial thoughts on the transition from Montreal to Washington D.C.?
Well I was really happy because we were moving to the nations capital and into a bigger market, also when people asked me who I played for I didn't have to have to explain every single detail about it, they just new that Washington DC was in the united states and didn't think the Montreal Expos was a minor league team.
3) Coming into 2008, what goals did you set for yourself? Did you accomplish them?
Well going into every year I really only have one goal and you can say what you want to say because everyone always says come on Collin you have to have more goals then just that, the only goal I had was to stay healthy and I told myself if I stay healthy then good things will happen for me and it came true.
4) What are your thoughts on the new stadium in Washington? How does it compare to other major league parks you played at this year?
The first time I saw Nationals Park I was in awe, it really is an amazing stadium I mean the field, the stands, the red loft bar, and last but not least the jumbo-tron. But my favorite part of the whole stadium and im sorry fans because its the part that you cant go to is the clubhouse, I mean talk about top notch and just unreal. I would put Nationals Park on my top 5 stadiums no doubt.
Well the day of the draft I skipped school and I had some of my friends and my highschool coach over to the house and we watched the draft on the computer. I really didn't have a clue when I was going to get drafted or if I even was going to get drafted, so we all just watched the screen waiting for my name to get called. My cell phone rang and it was my agent and he said did you hear that buddy you did it, I was like what do you mean and he said you got drafted and said just watch and ill call you back. So we waited and they said Detroit Tigers take a 6'5" pitcher out of CA Collin Mahoney and everyone cheered after they heard Collin and then kinda felt bad for me after the Mahoney part, then I thought my agent was crazy but then a couple picks later the Expos drafted me and every one was super happy and that was the best day of my life till I made my MLB debut. As for part 2 of that question, if you told me the Expos were going to draft me before the draft I would have said your crazy because they might have been the one team that I really didn't talk to very much.
2) What were your initial thoughts on the transition from Montreal to Washington D.C.?
Well I was really happy because we were moving to the nations capital and into a bigger market, also when people asked me who I played for I didn't have to have to explain every single detail about it, they just new that Washington DC was in the united states and didn't think the Montreal Expos was a minor league team.
3) Coming into 2008, what goals did you set for yourself? Did you accomplish them?
Well going into every year I really only have one goal and you can say what you want to say because everyone always says come on Collin you have to have more goals then just that, the only goal I had was to stay healthy and I told myself if I stay healthy then good things will happen for me and it came true.
4) What are your thoughts on the new stadium in Washington? How does it compare to other major league parks you played at this year?
The first time I saw Nationals Park I was in awe, it really is an amazing stadium I mean the field, the stands, the red loft bar, and last but not least the jumbo-tron. But my favorite part of the whole stadium and im sorry fans because its the part that you cant go to is the clubhouse, I mean talk about top notch and just unreal. I would put Nationals Park on my top 5 stadiums no doubt.
5) What do you think the Nationals need to do in order to contend in the next few seasons?
Well I think all the pieces are here we just need to put the puzzle together. We really have a lot of great players at the major league level and a bunch in the minors that look to be ready in a couple years. I really feel that if we can stay healthy we will contend and surprise a lot of people.
6) A few months back I did an interview with Jamie Moyer and he said, "if you look at any starting pitcher during the course of the season when you're getting 30 or more starts, we're all in that same boat. It's just how bad are you? The way I look at it is if you take those 3-5 bad starts away and remove the 3-5 good starts away, the bulk of your season is in the remainder of 25 or so starts. If you pitch well in those games, you have a chance to make a big contribution to your ballclub." How do you feel about this method to measure a starting pitchers contributions to his club?
I believe in that method totally, I mean all you have to do is pitch good in the games when you might not have your best stuff or if you dont have your stuff at all because everyone knows its easy to pitch when you have your best stuff, so like Jamie said if you pitch well in those 20-25 games then your going to make a big contribution.
Well I think all the pieces are here we just need to put the puzzle together. We really have a lot of great players at the major league level and a bunch in the minors that look to be ready in a couple years. I really feel that if we can stay healthy we will contend and surprise a lot of people.
6) A few months back I did an interview with Jamie Moyer and he said, "if you look at any starting pitcher during the course of the season when you're getting 30 or more starts, we're all in that same boat. It's just how bad are you? The way I look at it is if you take those 3-5 bad starts away and remove the 3-5 good starts away, the bulk of your season is in the remainder of 25 or so starts. If you pitch well in those games, you have a chance to make a big contribution to your ballclub." How do you feel about this method to measure a starting pitchers contributions to his club?
I believe in that method totally, I mean all you have to do is pitch good in the games when you might not have your best stuff or if you dont have your stuff at all because everyone knows its easy to pitch when you have your best stuff, so like Jamie said if you pitch well in those 20-25 games then your going to make a big contribution.
7) Who were some of the better hitters that you faced this year?
Some of the better hitters I faced this year were, Manny Ramirez, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Ryan Braun, C.C. Sabathia (haha), Ken Griffey JR, Adam Dunn. I mean im sure I left off a bunch but those are a few who come to mind.
8) Do you have any special rituals that you practice on game day or while on the mound?
Im not really a ritual kinda guy, but I do find myself doing some funny things on the day I pitch like, using the same urinal everytime I pitch, eating fruit right when I get to the park, listen to music 45 minutes before the game for 10 minutes. Those are minor compared to a lot of other players but those are a few.
Some of the better hitters I faced this year were, Manny Ramirez, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Ryan Braun, C.C. Sabathia (haha), Ken Griffey JR, Adam Dunn. I mean im sure I left off a bunch but those are a few who come to mind.
8) Do you have any special rituals that you practice on game day or while on the mound?
Im not really a ritual kinda guy, but I do find myself doing some funny things on the day I pitch like, using the same urinal everytime I pitch, eating fruit right when I get to the park, listen to music 45 minutes before the game for 10 minutes. Those are minor compared to a lot of other players but those are a few.
9) How do you feel about the Ryan Howard v. Albert Pujols MVP debate? Would you have voted for Pujols?
Well those are two great players right there, you have the HR king and you have the guy you cant throw anything by. If I was voting and obviously I cant but I would vote for Albert Pujols and it wouldn't be by much because I believe that those are two of the better players in this game.
10) What can you tell us about your MLBlog? How can readers access it?
Well I do this blog because I believe that fans should be more behind the scenes and be able to see what players are all about, I mean come on now without you fans Baseball is nothing so I like to give back to the fans and answer questions they might have on a 1 to 1 basis and really show them that baseball players arn't so bad after all. I mean I was a fan not to long ago and I know what there thinking. So yeah, go on to http://collinbalester.mlblogs.com/ and check it out, its just Bally being Bally Check out how I live on a day to day basis, dont be afraid to ask questions dont be shy check it out it will be a good time, I promise.
Well those are two great players right there, you have the HR king and you have the guy you cant throw anything by. If I was voting and obviously I cant but I would vote for Albert Pujols and it wouldn't be by much because I believe that those are two of the better players in this game.
10) What can you tell us about your MLBlog? How can readers access it?
Well I do this blog because I believe that fans should be more behind the scenes and be able to see what players are all about, I mean come on now without you fans Baseball is nothing so I like to give back to the fans and answer questions they might have on a 1 to 1 basis and really show them that baseball players arn't so bad after all. I mean I was a fan not to long ago and I know what there thinking. So yeah, go on to http://collinbalester.mlblogs.com/ and check it out, its just Bally being Bally Check out how I live on a day to day basis, dont be afraid to ask questions dont be shy check it out it will be a good time, I promise.
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