Chris Archer Q&A

[cbbryan]

Cubs minor leaguer Chris Archer will be interviewed soon. We'd like to do a segment w/ fan questions.

 

Former-Peoria Chiefs announcer Brian Bedo (Now with TSR Media Group) will be conducting the interview.

 

Please post questions in this thread.

 

 

 

 

Chris Archer was traded from Cleveland to Chicago as part of the Mark DeRosa trade. He played Peoria in 2009 where he posted a 6-4 record, 2.81 ERA, 119/66 K/BB in 109 IP.

[Guest]

Cubs minor leaguer Chris Archer will be interviewed soon. We'd like to do a segment w/ fan questions.

 

Former-Peoria Chiefs announcer Brian Bedo (Now with TSR Media Group) will be conducting the interview.

 

Please post questions in the thread on 312sports.

 

 

Chris Archer was traded from Cleveland to Chicago as part of the Mark DeRosa trade. He played Peoria in 2009 where he posted a 6-4 record, 2.81 ERA, 119/66 K/BB in 109 IP.

[jersey cubs fan]

in before lock

[Guest]

in before lock

ha! merged 'em. :)

[cbbryan]

Brian Bedo is e-mailing his questions over soon. If you have any questions please get them in right away.

 

Thanks.

[Guest]

If I may...

 

What have you been working on to improve your control from 2008 in the Cleveland system to 2009 in the Cubs system? What more do you feel you need to do to improve the control and gain the ability to go deeper into games?

 

What is the biggest difference in coaching or philosophy between the Indians and the Cubs?

 

Thanks for doing this and thank you to Chris.

[ChiefsVoice]

 

Former-Peoria Chiefs announcer Brian Bedo (Now with TSR Media Group) will be conducting the interview.

 

Did I lose my job?? :D j/k. Brian did a great job as my intern and will be outstanding with these interviews and working for 312sports. Can't wait to see what he has with Arch.

 

My question is non-baseball related...Chris was one of the best off the field individuals we have ever had in Peoria giving his time selflessly to visit kids in Hospitals, read to school classes, do media interviews, sign autographs and volunteer for other events. As a young man, where did this desire to help others come from and do you see it as part of your job in being a professional baseball player? Hopefully you wont be back in Peoria so good luck to you in 2010, you will be an asset to whatever team/community you pitch for.

 

Nathan

[cbbryan]

 

Former-Peoria Chiefs #2 broadcaster Brian Bedo (Now with TSR Media Group) will be conducting the interview.

 

Did I lose my job?? :D j/k. Brian did a great job as my intern and will be outstanding with these interviews and working for 312sports. Can't wait to see what he has with Arch.

 

My question is non-baseball related...Chris was one of the best off the field individuals we have ever had in Peoria giving his time selflessly to visit kids in Hospitals, read to school classes, do media interviews, sign autographs and volunteer for other events. As a young man, where did this desire to help others come from and do you see it as part of your job in being a professional baseball player? Hopefully you wont be back in Peoria so good luck to you in 2010, you will be an asset to whatever team/community you pitch for.

 

Nathan

 

 

lol, Nathan. There you go.....fixed.

[ChiefsVoice]

Thanks. and If you want or need photos of Archer or any audio of his games this season let me know either on PM here or nathanb@chiefsnet.com.

 

NB

[craig]

What changes did you make last year that you thought helped, and were there other changes that you tried that you realized weren't going to work? For example, grip on your breaking ball, or arm slot, or something?

 

What do you throw for breaking ball?

 

Is your fastball 2-seam or 4-seam or both?

 

Do you throw a cutter, and if not is that something you want to add?

 

In a typical game, if you were throwing 100 pitches, how many would you think would be fastballs vs changeups vs breaking balls?

 

Have you been working on anything in particular this offseason? Did you work on anything in particular down in Mesa this fall?

 

Is there anything in particular that plan to focus on this spring?

 

You've been starting in the minors. Do you know if the Cubs are tracking you for rotation? Or do you expect to move to relief once you get higher up in the minors and closer to the majors?

 

Fastball velocity: do you know what your typical velocity is in a normal game, and how high you maxed out this season?

[cbbryan]

Interview audio is up. Here's the link: LINK

[CUBZ99]

Interview audio is up. Here's the link: LINK

 

Nice interview. He seems like a good kid that really has his stuff together. Now if he could just get some command of his pitches he would be in good shape.

[craig]

Thanks for link and interview. Fun. Seems like a good kid, easy to root for.

 

Some things that caught my attention:

1. Throws curve (early in count for strikes) and slider (uses as an out pitch with 2 strikes)

 

2. Would like to throw about 70% fastballs.

 

3. Claimed that he reduced walks 40% (I don't think that's correct, or at least on a per-inning basis.)

 

4. Said that he thought he made some finesse adjustments in fall that helped his command.

 

5. Said the Cubs were much more focused on mechanics (and restricted pitch counts much more) than Indians, who spent more emphasis on mental/psychological stuff.