EM - Many kids think the step from where they are to where you are is unattainable. What do you say?
SKIP: It’s not. They can get there too. Some of the younger Quakes kids came to watch me play this year. It was great to have them there.
EM - What would you tell an 11 year old about what he should do to get to where you are.
SKIP: I’d tell him to work hard in the off season. That’s what equals performance in season. Learn to deal with failure, be confident, work hard and want it. If you are one short to finish a rep or 1 foot away from the ball, you got to give that extra push. Like when I’m working out at EM, I am dead tired and want to puke. I have to push myself to finish because there is no point in coming out short. I’d be sore, and not want to run but I would push to finish and that is what makes the difference.
EM - Where do you get that drive?
SKIP: Pushing for that one step further all really comes from within, you have to want it.
EM - How important is having your parents support?
SKIP: They are the ones behind the scenes that make everything work. I think it’s the number one thing you need. They drive me to EM to workout and to all the games to play. They are your number one fans and they are your worst critics. (Well at least my dad is on that one).
EM - If you had a bad game, how is the drive home?
SKIP: Quiet . . . no talking, when we lose . . quiet. Some points from my Dad, cause he the critic, my mom usually points out the high points. But I am my worst critic I am harder on myself then any coach or my parents.
EM - What is your very worst baseball memory?
SKIP: My worst would probably be freshman year. Started out great. 11 for 15 hit some homeruns everything was great, 5 RBIS in 8 games. Then I went 0-26 with - 15 strikeouts, it was the worst slump ever! I was thinking please bench me I am tired of this . . . .Now I know that if I have a bad game, I know its ok, its just one game and I try to focus on the positives.
Now that I coach some younger kids, I tell the 7and 8 year olds when they strike out that the sun will come up, its just one game and they will have another at bat to do better.
EM - Other than the draft, what is the highlight of baseball career?
SKIP: I hit a home run on live T.V.! I practically floated around the bases. It was amazing. This year I also received the Gatorade athlete of the year so that was amazing! I also hit a grand slam in USA game against the Dominican Republic. I got a gold medal with the USA team.
EM - The 2008 MLB draft... As a kid, did you ever think it would happen?
SKIP: No I did not really even think about it until a year ago draft day. I just watched and wanted to be there so bad. I looked at the kids that were there and thought they were giants. I wondered how good those kids must be. I worked hard at EM, did little things here and there, I hit with Chris Prieto. Then my name started popping up. I thought why is my name up there I am just a normal guy. Hearing my name on June 6, was like a dream come true. Some one asked me what do you do when all your dreams come true . . I said you make new ones. I already set my new ones and am going to work hard to see them come true.
EM - So this is great. But this is not the end of the hard work?
SKIP: No this is the beginning. I have got to work hard. I have got to work my way through the Florida Marlins system, work hard to get to be a Big Leaguer.
My Goal is to make it to the big leagues in three years four tops. Make the all star team in the first 2 or 3 years, win a golden glove and to win a World Series.
EM - Big game guy?
SKIP: Yes I love it. I love the pressure. Our coach this year made us bring a thing we fear to the game. Most kids brought fearing a strikeout. My fear was not being “ON”in a clutch situation. I want that pressure.
EM - How important is preparation?
SKIP: I actually read a book on preparation. “Dare to Prepare - how to win before you begin”. You win games before you start. You go through checklists, like setting your uniform out the night before an early game. Then you can take more time in the morning to eat breakfast. Good breakfast more sleep. If not your rushing and you might forget something a belt or socks. Then you are thinking about that and not the game. On the way to the game I listen to a hitting tape by Steve Springer “quality at bats.” Being prepared puts me in a good frame of mind. Working out with EM in the off season is just like that, being prepared for the season.
So when you are in a clutch situation you’re ready because you have prepared for it. I picture it in bed. Bottom of the 9th 1-1 count. Or in batting practices pretends certain pitches are with the game on the line.
With all this extra curricular stuff, baseball career and all your opportunities. You have a lot of opportunities to stray, to socialize and party how do you deal?
It’s a sacrifice but you make it. On a night before a game instead of hanging with friends until 2 or 3 you come home at 10:30. My Parents tell me “you are at the top of the mountain and everyone wants to knock the man at the top off.’ I would tell my friends I have different goals, and that’s why I do this. It’s how you can tell the difference between the people who say they want it and the ones who really want it.
EM - Do you have friends outside of baseball?
SKIP: All my friends really are through baseball. It’s like a brotherhood, like a fraternity. You surround yourself with people who have the same goals and want the same things.
At first friends would try to convince me not to leave early to stay out. But when they see how it pays off they turned supportive wishing me good luck when I had to leave early.
EM - When do you realize that you are a good ball player?
SKIP: There is usually one deciding game where all of a sudden in your game in just clicks. When you do something so spectacular, everything goes from there.
EM - Do you know you are a good player?
SKIP: Yes I know I am a god ball player now. I’m not cocky but I am confident. I have that self confidence with myself . I like to use the phrase “quiet confidence will take you a long way.”
My deciding game summer after sophomore year. I was trying out for USA team in Florida. I was the wildcard. I was benched the first game. Got to pinch hit in the seventh inning to tie the game, banged a 400 foot double off the fence, then hit it off the left fence for another double, then next at bat I hit it off the right fence for a another double. That was the first domino that hit for me.
EM - So it was not like going out there thinking “I hope I don’t strike out?”
SKIP: NO it was like I’m going to show them they better not bench me again.
EM - What music is on your ipod?
Top 3 pre game songs:
- Pop and bottles
- Never back down
- 50 Cent - I’ll Whip Ya head boy
When I’m hitting I like to use a rhythm with my timing and everything and moving in the box and I’ll associate it with a song and if I’m having trouble with my rhythm I’ll sing the song in my head. I have a cage in my garage and I’ll blare the music and just hit.
EM - How many swings in a week?
SKIP: About 500 a week. There is a fridge in our garage and I’ll go out for a Gatorade and hit about ten balls then grab my drink and go back in.
EM - Do you hit in the morning or night?
SKIP: Mostly at night. I like to sleep as long as possible in the mornings. Sometimes I would come home after lunch before a game with some guys and we would just hit.
EM - You have a great support system with your parents?
Oh yes. I would not be sitting here today if it weren’t for them.
EM - Scouting reports have you ranked as the number one pure hitter.
SKIP: When I saw that I was like wow. What it was saying is like out off all those people I am the one that could walk up pick up a bat and hit the ball. That’s awesome. It comes from all those trips for a Gatorade where I jut stop and hit first. Even coming here (EM) and hitting with Chris. He definitely helped me. I could not hit a ball to left field if a tried. And now with Chris’ help, I would say about 1/3 of my hits this year were to left field.
I was all pull when I first came in. All whippy. So I came in and we would sit down and analyzed my video. We put it up next to Ryan Howard and that was a good visual. And now I can go out and be comfortable with everything. I’m comfortable with a left hander now cause Chris is throwing me left handed BP all he time. |
