Brian Anderson and Gio Gonzalez Interviews

[maggsmaggs]

http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp

 

It's on the top of the page right now, Brian sounds like a really good guy.

[SouthSide2004]

There is an audio interview with Casey Rogowski on the top too. There is also a Q & A segment with Gio, here it is:

 

MiLB.com: What exactly is your injury? Reports seem to be a bit vague.

 

Gonzalez: I have a sore right oblique. It's not that serious. I could be out there pitching again in a couple of weeks. I don't want to rush it. That's their [the White Sox] rules. I play by their rules. They said we're going to rest you now and give you a little time to recover. It's not that serious, but they don't want you to go out there and get hurt even more.

 

MiLB.com: When exactly did it happen?

 

Gonzalez: During my last start, about two weeks ago. It happened around the sixth inning, which was my last inning. It was windy against my back, and the wind was hitting me hard. It's nothing with my pitching arm or anything on my left side. I can throw just as hard as I was before, but I just don't want to push it.

 

I've thrown [off flat ground] for a week and I'm still bringing my velocity up. Maybe it will be another two weeks before I'm back on a mound.

 

MiLB.com: What has been the biggest adjustment you've had to make going right from high school to professional baseball?

 

Gonzalez: It would definitely have to be my maturity. You definitely have to be mature for this. You have to be mentally ready because it's not like high school where if you mess up, you can always go back out there the next day and get another person. You have to be mentally ready all the time here.

 

I learned a lot dealing with the older kids they have here. You definitely have to change your mentality because you can't be a little kid anymore. You're with older men and mostly the coaches help you out. They keep you on your feet and ready to go every inning. I also gained a lot from my parents. They taught me very well, to always stay humble and never act immature.

 

MiLB.com: Who taught you throw that hook?

 

Gonzalez: That hook. Well, I tell you that hook was taught to me by my father when I was probably in sixth or seventh grade. He always told me to throw it like a fastball over the top. And just boom, stay up there and then a quick drop. He taught me a way to grip it a lot different than other curveballs. I grip it like a four-seam fastball so it really has a lot of spin and drop. A lot of people ask me how I grab it like that. It's something my father taught me, and it works so I haven't changed it.

 

MiLB.com: Is there any point in the count where it's more difficult for you to say, throw one pitch, like a breaking ball, as opposed to another?

 

Gonzalez: I don't mind throwing the changeup on a full count. It's good to throw a couple of different pitches just to see how people react. That's the best way to learn. If you make a mistake and it doesn't work for you, you know not to throw it again. If the ball hits off the wall, you don't throw it again.

 

MiLB.com: There were some who believed you would be a mid to high first-round pick yet you slipped to No. 38. Do you feel like you have something to prove to anyone, whether it's the teams that passed you up or anyone else?

 

Gonzalez: To be honest, I'm not out here to get anyone back. I'm just trying to help the White Sox out as much as possible. I'm happy and didn't mind slipping to where I did. I respect every single organization that let me go. Right now, I'm here and happy with the White Sox. They've treated me very well, I've tried my best and I'm helping them any way I can. Apparently they believe in me.

 

MiLB.com: Who was your favorite pitcher growing up?

 

Gonzalez: I always looked up to Sandy Koufax and the big-name lefties. Guys like Randy Johnson. I know Koufax was my dad's time, but he was always talking about him. My time is Johan Santana and guys like that. I love the way they pitch, with heart, doing whatever it takes to win.

 

MiLB.com: Is there a competition between you and [teammate] Ray Liotta?

 

Gonzalez: We call it a friendly competition. We help each other out, like saying, "Your arm slot is a little low or you have to pick it up here." We never head butt with each other to see who is better or see who can strike out more guys. I respect him way too much to be doing something like that.

 

MiLB.com: Do you have any timetable as to when you want to reach the Major Leagues?

 

Gonzalez: I don't really touch any of that. I don't want to jump to conclusions and say I'm going to make it to Double-A or Triple-A or anywhere. Whatever happens, happens. In time it will happen. Right now, I'm just waiting my turn.

 

MiLB.com: What team did you follow growing up?

 

Gonzalez: I'm a Miami boy so I always liked the Marlins a lot. I loved them, but the team I always looked up to was the Braves. They are always so dedicated and disciplined. I like that kind of stuff. I always liked players who are ready to go.

 

MiLB.com: In talking to some scouts about you, some have said that you are a bit cocky. Are you?

 

Gonzalez: No, I would never say cocky. Cocky on the mound maybe, but I would never show anybody up. You always have to have some cockiness or confidence on the mound but never off the field. I'm one of the most humble kids you will meet off the field. You can come up to me whenever you want. Cockiness, no I wouldn't say that. You can't judge a book by its cover. If I went up to you and said you're cocky, that's wrong. Why don't you meet somebody first then say what you have to say?

 

MiLB.com: What's something about you that nobody knows?

 

Gonzalez: In my spare time I like to draw a little. My father is a billboard artist so I kind of picked it up from him. I like to draw in my spare time. I'm alright. I'm not an A-plus guy, maybe C-plus or B-minus, around there. That's what I like to do, and my mom and dad are the only ones who know about it.

 

MiLB.com: Are you ever intimidated on the mound?

 

Gonzalez: No, no. You've got to be a Barry Bonds and that's even pushing it because a lot of these batters, you know I respect them. But they have to respect me. I respect every hitter. But to intimidate me, you have to be something out of this world. I've never been afraid on the mound. My father always put me through some big competition. It made me mentally strong, and I thank him for that. He always had me in the big games. I love pitching in front of a packed house. If we had a World Series, I'd pitch 100 innings.

 

MiLB.com: What's your best baseball memory?

 

Gonzalez: My sophomore year of high school, when we won the championship for the second time in a row. We beat the No. 1 team in the nation, and it was phenomenal. It stopped raining for seven innings and, as soon as that last out was made, it started to pour again.

 

MiLB.com: Was going to college ever in your plans?

 

Gonzalez: I always wanted to play pro ball. If it wasn't a reasonable situation for me and my family, I would have played for the University of Miami and would have been happy with them. They have a great pitching coach [J.D. Arteaga]. He was the one who taught me my changeup in high school, and I've kept that change.

[aboz56]

The first sentence really jumped out at me:

 

HAGERSTOWN, MD. -- Gio Gonzalez is considered by some to be the top pitching prospect in the White Sox organization, if not all of baseball. The hard-throwing southpaw with the slight build has been clocked consistently in the mid-90s on the gun, and complements that heat with a wicked curveball and a solid changeup. He's 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA for Class A Kannapolis, easily handling much of what the South Atlantic League has to offer.

 

His 38 strikeouts in 22 innings was tops among the entire Minor Leagues at one point this season, but Gonzalez hasn't pitched since straining a right oblique muscle on April 23 against Hickory. He struck out 10 and allowed only four hits in his six innings of work that day, but hasn't been back on a mound since.

 

MiLB.com caught up with Gonzalez on Monday evening at Hagerstown's Memorial Stadium after he went through nearly two hours of treatment and rehab work. On a chilly, gray evening, Gonzalez took time to discuss his injury, his approach to pitching and what he likes to do in his spare time.

 

MiLB.com: What exactly is your injury? Reports seem to be a bit vague.

 

Gonzalez: I have a sore right oblique. It's not that serious. I could be out there pitching again in a couple of weeks. I don't want to rush it. That's their [the White Sox] rules. I play by their rules. They said we're going to rest you now and give you a little time to recover. It's not that serious, but they don't want you to go out there and get hurt even more.

 

MiLB.com: When exactly did it happen?

 

Gonzalez: During my last start, about two weeks ago. It happened around the sixth inning, which was my last inning. It was windy against my back, and the wind was hitting me hard. It's nothing with my pitching arm or anything on my left side. I can throw just as hard as I was before, but I just don't want to push it.

 

I've thrown [off flat ground] for a week and I'm still bringing my velocity up. Maybe it will be another two weeks before I'm back on a mound.

 

MiLB.com: What has been the biggest adjustment you've had to make going right from high school to professional baseball?

 

Gonzalez: It would definitely have to be my maturity. You definitely have to be mature for this. You have to be mentally ready because it's not like high school where if you mess up, you can always go back out there the next day and get another person. You have to be mentally ready all the time here.

 

I learned a lot dealing with the older kids they have here. You definitely have to change your mentality because you can't be a little kid anymore. You're with older men and mostly the coaches help you out. They keep you on your feet and ready to go every inning. I also gained a lot from my parents. They taught me very well, to always stay humble and never act immature.

 

MiLB.com: Who taught you throw that hook?

 

Gonzalez: That hook. Well, I tell you that hook was taught to me by my father when I was probably in sixth or seventh grade. He always told me to throw it like a fastball over the top. And just boom, stay up there and then a quick drop. He taught me a way to grip it a lot different than other curveballs. I grip it like a four-seam fastball so it really has a lot of spin and drop. A lot of people ask me how I grab it like that. It's something my father taught me, and it works so I haven't changed it.

 

MiLB.com: Is there any point in the count where it's more difficult for you to say, throw one pitch, like a breaking ball, as opposed to another?

 

Gonzalez: I don't mind throwing the changeup on a full count. It's good to throw a couple of different pitches just to see how people react. That's the best way to learn. If you make a mistake and it doesn't work for you, you know not to throw it again. If the ball hits off the wall, you don't throw it again.

 

MiLB.com: There were some who believed you would be a mid to high first-round pick yet you slipped to No. 38. Do you feel like you have something to prove to anyone, whether it's the teams that passed you up or anyone else?

 

Gonzalez: To be honest, I'm not out here to get anyone back. I'm just trying to help the White Sox out as much as possible. I'm happy and didn't mind slipping to where I did. I respect every single organization that let me go. Right now, I'm here and happy with the White Sox. They've treated me very well, I've tried my best and I'm helping them any way I can. Apparently they believe in me.

 

MiLB.com: Who was your favorite pitcher growing up?

 

Gonzalez: I always looked up to Sandy Koufax and the big-name lefties. Guys like Randy Johnson. I know Koufax was my dad's time, but he was always talking about him. My time is Johan Santana and guys like that. I love the way they pitch, with heart, doing whatever it takes to win.

 

MiLB.com: Is there a competition between you and [teammate] Ray Liotta?

 

Gonzalez: We call it a friendly competition. We help each other out, like saying, "Your arm slot is a little low or you have to pick it up here." We never head butt with each other to see who is better or see who can strike out more guys. I respect him way too much to be doing something like that.

 

MiLB.com: Do you have any timetable as to when you want to reach the Major Leagues?

 

Gonzalez: I don't really touch any of that. I don't want to jump to conclusions and say I'm going to make it to Double-A or Triple-A or anywhere. Whatever happens, happens. In time it will happen. Right now, I'm just waiting my turn.

 

MiLB.com: What team did you follow growing up?

 

Gonzalez: I'm a Miami boy so I always liked the Marlins a lot. I loved them, but the team I always looked up to was the Braves. They are always so dedicated and disciplined. I like that kind of stuff. I always liked players who are ready to go.

 

MiLB.com: In talking to some scouts about you, some have said that you are a bit cocky. Are you?

 

Gonzalez: No, I would never say cocky. Cocky on the mound maybe, but I would never show anybody up. You always have to have some cockiness or confidence on the mound but never off the field. I'm one of the most humble kids you will meet off the field. You can come up to me whenever you want. Cockiness, no I wouldn't say that. You can't judge a book by its cover. If I went up to you and said you're cocky, that's wrong. Why don't you meet somebody first then say what you have to say?

 

MiLB.com: What's something about you that nobody knows?

 

Gonzalez: In my spare time I like to draw a little. My father is a billboard artist so I kind of picked it up from him. I like to draw in my spare time. I'm alright. I'm not an A-plus guy, maybe C-plus or B-minus, around there. That's what I like to do, and my mom and dad are the only ones who know about it.

 

MiLB.com: Are you ever intimidated on the mound?

 

Gonzalez: No, no. You've got to be a Barry Bonds and that's even pushing it because a lot of these batters, you know I respect them. But they have to respect me. I respect every hitter. But to intimidate me, you have to be something out of this world. I've never been afraid on the mound. My father always put me through some big competition. It made me mentally strong, and I thank him for that. He always had me in the big games. I love pitching in front of a packed house. If we had a World Series, I'd pitch 100 innings.

 

MiLB.com: What's your best baseball memory?

 

Gonzalez: My sophomore year of high school, when we won the championship for the second time in a row. We beat the No. 1 team in the nation, and it was phenomenal. It stopped raining for seven innings and, as soon as that last out was made, it started to pour again.

 

MiLB.com: Was going to college ever in your plans?

 

Gonzalez: I always wanted to play pro ball. If it wasn't a reasonable situation for me and my family, I would have played for the University of Miami and would have been happy with them. They have a great pitching coach [J.D. Arteaga]. He was the one who taught me my changeup in high school, and I've kept that change.

 

Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

[RockRaines]

Its gotta make you happy, when Gio is called the best prospect and we have a major league ready arm in AAA dominating as we speak. I cant wait to see this rotation in the next few years.

[aboz56]

What a problem to have... a logjam of pitchers.

 

 

Kudos to our minor league system for a great draft last year and for starting to turn our system back into what it was a few years ago.