Question and Answer with Eric Patterson- ANSWERS POSTED

[Chris]

Thank you to everyone for your support of this question and answer session with Eric Patterson! Eric's responses will be posted as soon as the session is completed. Thank you for your interest and support of NSBB!

[Chris]

Below is the completed Q & A session with Eric Patterson of the Peoria Chiefs! Thank you to Eric for taking time out of his schedule to take our questions and comments! A special thank you to Nathan Baliva for taking the time to schedule and conduct this session! In addition, thank you to all of you for making NSBB such a wonderful posting community!

 

Eric Patterson Q & A

 

chicubs (Indianapolis, IN):

1) Has Corey been giving you advice on handling yourself through the minors and eventually majors?

 

Not much really. He gave me more of a heads up on what to expect travel wise. Most of how to handle yourself you have to learn on your own or though your upbringing.

 

2) How would you describe your game?

 

I’m more of a speed guy whose job is to get on base. I do have the ability to drive the ball when I get a pitch to handle. The main thing for me is to get on base any way I can and be solid up the middle, play good defense. And when I am on base, I’m going to run.

 

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HerbalK (Las Vegas, NV): Thanks for taking our questions, Eric. I was just wondering how your Dad feels about both yourself and Corey going pro in baseball. Did he try to steer you guys towards football at all? Thanks for your time. Here's to a great second half!

 

P.S. Let Corey know to keep his head up, he's still got lots of fans that want to see him succeed.

 

No my dad never tried to steer us any direction. The great thing about our parents is they supported us in anything we did. My dad is more into baseball now it's really weird he is a baseball nut now. Its very interesting how we find him watching baseball on TV over football

 

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TXCubsFan (Austin, TX):

Thanks for answering our questions. What areas of your game have you been working hardest to improve during your time in Peoria?

 

Staying healthy and being consistent. In your first full season you don’t want to nit pick. You want to adapt. More specific improvement comes in the first off season.

 

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Aramis Fan (Rochester, NY): Thanks for answering our questions Eric,

 

I was wondering if you were interested/played in any other sports in high school?

 

I played basketball and was pretty good but I couldn’t shoot. I could handle the ball and pass and played great defense but I couldn’t shoot. I played more for fun and to hang out with my friends who played. In middle school basketball was more my sport.

 

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JonMDavis (Evanston, IL): Eric,

 

Thanks for signing autographs during the rain delay on July 4th. As a promising player at GT, how has the transition from being a student-athlete to a professional athlete been for you? With more time dedicated to playing and training for baseball, have you noticed any differences with your on-field performance? How much more are mechanics and form both at the plate and in the field stressed by coaches in minor league ball compared to college?

 

Its good in the fact that in school not only do you have to perform on the field you have to concentrate on the classroom and get your work done there. Less things to focus on now, makes it easier.

 

No real differences but there is more time devoted to individual work and a lot more focus on what you are doing. More time to relax and recover without having to write a paper or study.

About the same on stressing mechanics as long as you get the job done at both levels. Players get into trouble thinking too much about mechanics and trying to be too perfect. You have to just go out and play the game and get the job done.

 

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Slugger_16 (Charleston, SC): Eric,

 

Thank you for taking time to answer our questions.

 

What, if any, has been the difference for you between batting leadoff in college and 2nd in pro ball? Also, has the transition from an aluminum to wooden bat been difficult at all for you, a player that utilizes speed more than power?

 

No difference, still at top of the order you want to get on base. Maybe some more situational hitting if the leadoff guy is on base in front of you but that’s it.

 

I prefer hitting with wood over aluminum and I’m glad I’m doing it right now.

 

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NCCubbieFan (North Carolina): Eric,

 

Did the prospect of playing with your brother in Chicago influence your decision to sign with the Cubs rather than returning to Georgia Tech, or do you think you would have signed anyway?

 

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t play a part but it played a small part. Baseball is a business and there is no way of knowing if we will ever play together anyway but it is a great organization and the possibility is very intriguing.

 

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vance_the_cubs_fan (Monroe, LA): Hi Eric. Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions.

 

What part of your game do you take the most pride in? Hitting, base running, or fielding?

 

Definitely hitting. But I take pride in all three parts. You can help your team in the field just as much as you can at the plate.

 

What players did you grow up watching? Is there any particular player you have tried to model your game after?

 

I’ve always just tried to be myself. Being a middle infielder I always just watched second basemen and shortstops play the game.

 

Have you considered playing any other positions besides secondbase?

 

Anywhere that will get me in the lineup. I have played some shortstop and outfield in high school but id like to stay at 2nd.

 

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goony's evil twin: Conratulations on a great start to your pro career so far in the Midwest League. At this point of the season it looks like you have played well enough to earn a promotion to the next level, playing for the Daytona Cubs. Has anybody from the organization talked to you about plans for future moves up the ladder, or do you have any idea if/when you'll move up during the season?

 

I have no idea, I just play where they tell me too and bust my butt wherever I am. I’m happy in any lineup.

 

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JC: Eric,

Congratulations on starting your career with the Cubs. Many people around here have followed your early season with great enthusiasm.

 

How often do you and Corey speak? Do your new teammates try to keep track of what is going on with the big club by getting information out of you, or do they not really want to get distracted by following what is happening in Chicago?

 

We talk a couple of times a week. It’s more about catching up and being brothers and talking about life and family than talking about baseball.

 

For the most part we are interested in Chicago and hope they do well but we are also concentrating on getting there ourselves and what we have to do to succeed.

 

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rawaction: Thanks Eric for answering our questions.

 

I've seen publications say that you project as just a ML utility player, yet you have always hit (back at GT) and lead the MWL in hitting. What do you see as your weaknesses as a hitter, and what is being done to make adjustments?

 

Hitting is always something you can improve at and you are always making adjustments and working to get better. I think hitting is a strength of mine but I will always work on it.

 

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MembersOnlyJacket: Eric, thanks for taking time to answer our questions. I grew up in Cobb Co. and it's really amazing to see how many players from that area are currently in pro baseball. How much did playing baseball in the East Cobb area benefit you in your development?

 

I think it helped a lot just because with there being so many good players in the area you always face good competition. Playing in Cobb County it is easy to see why so many guys go on to NCAA and minor success.

 

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TruffleShuffle: Do the coaches stress anything specific about your approach at the plate? When you go up to bat in a normal situation with nobody on base, what are you thinking... work the count, make solid contact, drive the ball, etc?

 

My approach is pretty simple. Get a good pitch, hit it hard and keep it between the lines. Situations dictate different things but all im trying to do is put a good swing on it and get on base.

 

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CT Cubs Fan (Fairfield, CT): Hey Eric thanks for taking the Q&A

 

1.) Is it hard being so awesome all the time?

2.) To this point, what is the best moment of your career in sports?

 

1. no its not, ha ha ha

2. just getting the chance to go out and play every day. Every day is different, its not like a regular job. I’m living out a dream and that’s the best part for me.

 

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dalgreen (St. Louis, MO): Hi Eric. Thanks for your time.

 

We hear about the meal money and accommodations at the major league level. Can you tell us what the meal money/lodging are like at the class A level? Also, how do you feel about the city of Peoria, IL?

 

We do get a little meal money per day and we pretty much eat wherever is open after the game near the hotel whether that is McDonalds, Wendy’s Subway or if we are lucky enough to be near a sit-down restaurant. We stay in regular hotels all over the league: Holiday Inn, Econo Lodge, Super 8, Best Western, etc.

 

Peoria is a great city. Stadium is first class, atmosphere we feed off of and the fans are great to us. First class place all the way around and a great place to start my career, I feel lucky to be here.

 

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Poudre Moose (Platte River Valley): Eric,

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and congratulations on an outstanding start to your pro career. We look forward to seeing you in the majors!

 

There has been a lot of debate amongst analysts regarding the advantages of drafting high school or collegiate players. What benefits do you received from your time playing college ball as opposed to becoming a pro straight out of high school?

 

Three years to mature as a person and as a player. Coming out of high school I was smaller and the time at GT helped a lot with that and with learning about the game and focusing on fundamentals. It definitely gives you time to catch up and mature physically and mentally. I wouldn’t trade my college experiences at all.

 

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Knyption (Chicago, IL): Thanks for your time.

 

I hope Corey gets back on track and stays in the cubs org. How exciting would it be for you to bat leadoff with Corey in the 2 hole in the Majors? Have you set any personal goals as to when you would like to play for the big club?

 

It would be very exciting if that were to happen one day. I don’t have a specific goal on when I will make it. I just play how I can and get better and develop. Its really not my call. When the time is right it will happen.

 

 

What's your favorite baseball, or if you don't have one, nonbaseball movie?

 

Sandlot. That movie rocks.

 

Training day is a good one. Im a huge movie buff.

 

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craig: Questions relating to your draft experience last year:

 

1. How close did you come to going back to college? In your mind was it seriously in doubt whether you'd sign? Or did you pretty much know you would, but agent just figured holding out into the school year would ensure you'd get as much as possible in your deal?

 

It was a very tough decision for me. One day I’d wake up and want to sign. One day I’d want to go back to school. It was a tough choice all the way around I feel I made a good decision and I have no regrets about it.

 

2. Did Boras pretty much take care of the negotiations, and you left it up to the professional? Or did he keep you apprised about any contacts he and the Cubs had, and what was going on? Were the Cubs even allowed to talk to you directly, other than the initial call to congratulate you on being drafted? How much larger was the offer that you accepted in the end compared to what you could have gotten had you signed back in June?

 

I was in on all the contract talks and made the final decision. You can’t go back to school if you have signed with an agent so the Cubs had to talk to me until I made the decision because I didn’t have an agent.

 

3. You had some leg injuries early on. Are those all 100% now? If not, do you think your stolen-base output recently is not quite as exceptional as it might be next year when you're 100%?

 

I have fully recovered from my hamstring injuries. Obviously missing 3 weeks is hard and it has hampered my stolen base output even coming back I wasn’t at 100 percent right away and didn’t run at times when I might have at 100 percent.

 

4. You guys play pretty much every day, in contrast to college where you had time for practices every week. How would you compare the amount of instruction you get from the coaches in pro versus college? With more time for practice, is it actually a lot better in college? Or do the Peoria coaches have plenty of opportunity to discuss things and help you out with something that might need some work?

 

Yeah they definitely have time to work with us everyday. Obviously we don’t have practice days but we do it all pre-game. We show up a lot earlier than people would expect. That’s why we cherish our offdays so much. We have plenty of opportunity to work on anything from fielding to throwing to hitting to base-running.

 

5. You played against a lot of high-level competition in college. How much difference does going to wood bat make? And how much more difficult is the pitching in low-A than it was in college?

 

I wouldn’t say it’s more difficult, the big thing is it’s a lot easier to pick up what guys are trying to do with you at the plate. The execution is a lot better at this level. The control is a ton better for this level. I love hitting with wood bats but it definitely makes a difference. Obviously metal bats don’t break and you can’t get the cheap hits at this level you can sometimes get in college.

 

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Mizzou (Columbia, MO): Eric, thanks for taking the time. Can't wait to see you in Chicago.

 

How often do you and the other players go out? Pardon my ignorance, but are you guys allowed to go to a bar and have some drinks after the game? Or is that against team policy? Thanks.

 

We have on the field obligations that we know we need to fulfill. Our free time is our free time and we do hang out together.

 

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CaliforniaRaisin101 (Arcadia, CA): Eric,

 

What was it like to play for Team USA and play in the Pan American games?

 

It was a lot of fun. Spending 2 months with some of the best college players was great. It was a huge learning experience and you see how guys from other nations play the game. The travel was phenomenal and you get to play baseball and represent USA is a great honor and a tremendous time.

 

How quick does it take you to get used to a new double play partner, and what is the hardest part of getting used to a new SS on the field? What has it been like playing with Joe Simokaitis?

 

Its not too difficult. You do all the practicing pre-game and talk to him about where he wants the ball from you and you tell him where you want the ball from him and how you want it. Just understanding what he is looking for and working on it and communicating before the game.

 

Its been fun playing with Joe. He is real solid on the field and we clicked early with our double plays.

[Jon]

Awesome stuff. Thanks, Eric, Nathan, and DJAXX!!!

[Laura]

EXCELLENT!! (I liked CT's question best!) :D

 

Thanks, Eric and Nathan and DJAXX!!

[HerbalK]

Now, that I can respond, I just wanted to say thanks again to Eric for answering my and so many others questions.

[series65cubsfan]

Thanks Eric, you are having a fine year and I'm looking forward to seeing you play for many years with the Cubs.