Question & Answer with Matt Weber - Answers Posted!

[Chris]

http://peoriachiefs.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/PlayerManager/359.jpeg.300.jpeg

 

Matt Weber, Pitcher for the Peoria Chiefs, has graciously agreed to answer questions from posters on NSBB! If you would like to send a comment to Matt, or if you would like to ask Matt a question, feel free to post it here. Since the Chiefs' regular season is winding down, the deadline for submitting questions is MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, August 23. Once Matt has had an opportunity to answer them, the responses will be posted.

 

This session will be coordinated as in accordance with The NSBB Q & A Guidelines.

 

From the Peoria Chiefs website:

 

Birthplace: Roscoe, IL

DOB: May 5, 1985

Bats: R

Throws: R

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 200 lbs

 

Weber was chosen in the 16th Round of the 2003 draft by the Cubs directly out of high school. He played all of 2003 in Mesa, recording 13.1 innings, 1 save, and a 4.05 ERA in 7 appearances. In 2004, Weber started 14 games for Boise, finishing with a 5-1 record and a 2.95 ERA. He has a career ERA of 3.11.

 

Matt was the opening day starter for the Peoria Chiefs. Earlier this season, Matt threw an 89-pitch complete game vs. the Burlington Bees, but lost 2-0. It was the first complete game pitched in the Cubs minor league organization in 2005. He also pitched 38.1 innings without allowing a walk. (LINK to MiLB stats)

 

Thank you to Matt for taking the time to interact with us on such an up close and personal level. Many thanks to Nathan Baliva, Broadcast & Media Manager for the Peoria Chiefs, for setting up the interview! As always, thanks to all of you for making NSBB such a wonderful community!

[coldsteel]

Hey Matt,

 

I attended the Midwest League All-Star Game in Peoria this year and had quite a good time, from a fan's perspective. How about you? You had a lot of Chiefs teammates there, which was cool. How was pitching in the game -- and what were the most fun events outside of the game? If you have an amusing tale or two from All-Star week, please do share.

 

Thanks!

[Joe_Cub]

Hello and thank you for answering questions.

 

Since you\'re from north Illinois I was wondering what your favorite team was growing up and if you ever went to Wrigley Field. And who is your favorite major league pitcher?

 

Who\'s the funniest guy on the team and who has the best nickname?

 

THanks.

[Jon]

Matt-

 

How close were you to going to college? What was that decision like for you?

 

You and Sean Gallagher are the youngest guys on the team. What is it like spending so much time around guys who are as much as four years older than you, who have come from different places, and who have had different life experiences?

 

What was it like starting in front of Nomar Garciaparra? And what was it like seeing your name mentioned in articles regarding his rehab in the Tribune?

 

What's the key to your success on the mound? Is it your fastball or is it setting up batters for your slider?

 

Thanks!

[Laura]

Hi, Matt, and thanks for answering our questions!

 

Hey, your senior year in high school, you hit .365 in 74 at-bats and are listed in the IHSA stats as a P-3B. You also tripled (standing or sliding?). :)

 

Do you steal some batting practice time to keep your swing tuned up?

Are you looking forward to getting to a non-DH league?

Who's the best hitting pitcher on the Chiefs?

Do you share hitting techniques with your teammates? :)

 

Congrats on your walkless streak -- Nathan says it's the new Chiefs record -- and your great season -- and good luck!

[CuseCubFan69]

Thanks for taking the questions!

 

A lot of pitchers feel they can just blow their fastball by kids like they did in High School, do you feel it's important for kids to learn to throw a changeup in HS even though batters can't touch them and how would you go about convincing the pitcher that it's in his best interest to do so?

 

What coaches have helped you the most and what did they do to turn on the light?

[Outshined_One]

Matt,

 

What kind of exercises and pitching drills do you engage in to keep your arm sharp? Are there any good tips you might have for younger baseball players who are looking into getting into pitching and who are looking for ways to develop good habits without taxing their arms?

 

Secondly, what have been your goals for this season? Did you have any specific numbers in mind (i.e. a certain number of innings pitched), or did you instead just have some more general ones in mind?

 

Finally, how did you come about being a pitcher? Was it something you always wanted to do, or did you play other sports and eventually found yourself playing baseball?

 

Thanks for taking your time to answer our questions! Good luck on the rest of the season!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

How scary was it getting hit by that line drive, especially so soon after Mark Prior was hit? How were you able to return so quickly, not even missing a start? Is that incident still in the back of your head whenever you go out to pitch, and if it isn't, how do you get past it?

 

Thanks for taking our questions, Matt!

[Chris]

Thank you so much for joining us here at NSBB! Please feel free to visit at any time! One of our members (Serena) recently picked me up your Metallica jersey from a couple of weeks ago! Keep up the great work!

 

How has having Major League players in Peoria this season helped the players in the organization? Specifically, what was it like having Rich Hill and Kerry Wood with the Chiefs? What did you learn from having them there? Were there any questions that you made it a point to ask them?

 

Thanks!

[rawaction]

Thanks for answering questions Mr. Weber.

 

Just a comment first, last season I ran a blog and had some pretty good words to say about you. One of your family members (can't remember who) read it and actually sent me an email asking when I thought you would be close to home in the MWL.

 

My questions are: how important a role does family play in your career? i.e. do you come from a baseball background or get tips from anyone in your family?

 

Secondly and along the same lines, you are a lot closer to home this season than you have been as a professional. What was it like being that far from home right out of HS, especially last season when you had a full year of Arizona then Boise?

 

Congrats on a great season. You have a bright future.

[peajay]

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

 

I was wondering, since you were a 3-sport star in high school, did you always know it was baseball you wanted to pursue professionally? Did you ever seriously consider another sport?

 

How was the scouting/drafting process to go through? Did you have a pretty good idea the Cubs were going to select you? What kind of contact did you have with the scouts before the draft? How smoothly did the contract negotiations go?

 

PJ

[Laura]

Questions & Answers with Starting Pitcher Matt Weber

 

 

Coldsteel (Toledo, Ohio)

 

Hey Matt,

 

I attended the Midwest League All-Star Game in Peoria this year and had quite a good time, from a fan's perspective. How about you? You had a lot of Chiefs teammates there, which was cool. How was pitching in the game -- and what were the most fun events outside of the game? If you have an amusing tale or two from All-Star week, please do share.

 

Anytime you get picked to play in an all-star game you are honored. Picked by managers makes you appreciate it and you don’t know how many chances you will get.

 

Best part was Harvey hitting a truck on the street during the HR Derby.

 

The only amusing tale is that my career all-star ERA is now astronomical.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Joe_Cub (Rennselaer, Indiana)

 

Hello and thank you for answering questions.

 

Since you're from northern Illinois I was wondering what your favorite team was growing up and if you ever went to Wrigley Field. And who is your favorite major league pitcher?

 

Cubs were always my favorite team and Greg Maddux my favorite player growing up and we went to Wrigley a lot.

 

Who's the funniest guy on the team and who has the best nickname?

 

I am the funniest guy on the team. No one really has a good nickname.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

JonMDavis (Evanston, Illinois)

 

Matt-

 

How close were you to going to college? What was that decision like for you?

 

Up until the draft I was set on going to college and I always wanted to be a major league pitcher and now I have a chance to fulfill that dream. Decision was tough because I was going to be the first to go to college and it was tough on the family.

 

You and Sean Gallagher are the youngest guys on the team. What is it like spending so much time around guys who are as much as four years older than you, who have come from different places, and who have had different life experiences?

 

They have been around the game more and have three or four years of quality college ball and travel time. This year is long so they give us some perspective on long season and good travel tips for the offseason.

 

What was it like starting in front of Nomar Garciaparra? And what was it like seeing your name mentioned in articles regarding his rehab in the Tribune?

 

It was a great experience. It gives you an outlook on what its like to be under the microscope with everyone watching your moves. It shows what its like. Even with the media scrutiny it was the biggest day of the year seeing what he went through.

 

What's the key to your success on the mound? Is it your fastball or is it setting up batters for your slider?

 

I don’t throw a slider. I don’t have an overpowering fastball so it is setting up batters and knowing the situations. I’m a strategy guy and I like the one on one battles.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Serena (NW Indiana)

 

Hi, Matt, and thanks for answering our questions!

 

Hey, your senior year in high school, you hit .365 in 74 at-bats and are listed in the IHSA stats as a P-3B. You also tripled (standing or sliding?).

 

It was probably sliding cause I’m not the fastest individual you’ll see.

 

Do you steal some batting practice time to keep your swing tuned up?  Are you looking forward to getting to a non-DH league? Who's the best hitting pitcher on the Chiefs? Do you share hitting techniques with your teammates?

 

We hit every home Sunday as a pitching staff. Yes as long as the pitcher throws under 88 MPH. Adalberto Mendez. We talk mental hitting techniques. As for the swing itself, my style is more suited for 35 and over softball league.

 

Congrats on your walkless streak -- Nathan says it's the new Chiefs record -- and your great season -- and good luck!

 

Thanks!

 

 

CuseCubFan (Beautiful Upstate New York)

 

Thanks for taking the questions!

 

A lot of pitchers feel they can just blow their fastball by kids like they did in High School, do you feel it's important for kids to learn to throw a changeup in HS even though batters can't touch them and how would you go about convincing the pitcher that it's in his best interest to do so?

 

Your best interest in high school is to rack up the stats so the scouts come and watch you. But you need to work on the change on the side and improve it but the stats are what get you noticed. So you have to do what gets you scouted.

 

What coaches have helped you the most and what did they do to turn on the light?

 

My father was my first pitching coach until high school. In HS Coach Dennis Garvin showed me a lot. I’ve picked up a lot watching TV trying to emulate guys like Maddux and Clemens and the Cubs pitching coaches have been exceptional in teaching me how to pitch.

 

 

Outshined_One (Madison, Wisconsin)

 

Matt,

What kind of exercises and pitching drills do you engage in to keep your arm sharp? Are there any good tips you might have for younger baseball players who are looking into getting into pitching and who are looking for ways to develop good habits without taxing their arms?

 

We have a strict set of drills that we go through and stretches both on game days and on non-game days. We also run everyday and so some sort of throwing daily. As for tips, keep yourself in shape so you don’t overcompensate somewhere else and tax your arm and also stretch out properly.

 

Secondly, what have been your goals for this season? Did you have any specific numbers in mind (i.e. a certain number of innings pitched), or did you instead just have some more general ones in mind?

 

Everyone wants to have exceptional stats but for me being 20 I just wanted to stay consistent. And put the team in contention every start. Not miss a start and stay healthy and give yourself a chance to move up.

 

Finally, how did you come about being a pitcher? Was it something you always wanted to do, or did you play other sports and eventually found yourself playing baseball?

 

Well I played football and basketball in High School but wasn’t the most athletic so I ended up having the best chance in baseball which was what I preferred anyway.

 

Thanks for taking your time to answer our questions! Good luck on the rest of the season!

 

 

California Raisin 101 (Arcadia, California)

 

How scary was it getting hit by that line drive, especially so soon after Mark Prior was hit? How were you able to return so quickly, not even missing a start? Is that incident still in the back of your head whenever you go out to pitch, and if it isn't, how do you get past it?

 

It was so fast I didn’t even have a chance to think about it so it wasn’t scary. At first I thought it was broken since I had seen it happen to Prior. I was able to take care of it. Our trainer Matt Johnson did a great job getting me back and ready.

 

It’s not in the back of your head. You can’t be scared out there or you give the advantage to the hitter.

 

Thanks for taking our questions, Matt!

 

 

DJAXXFAN (near Jackson, Tennessee)

 

Thank you so much for joining us here at NSBB! Please feel free to visit at any time! One of our members (Serena) recently picked me up your Metallica jersey from a couple of weeks ago! Keep up the great work!

 

Thanks for buying the jersey. That was for a great cause and I hear they raised a record amount of money so thanks for participating.

 

How has having Major League players in Peoria this season helped the players in the organization? Specifically, what was it like having Rich Hill and Kerry Wood with the Chiefs? What did you learn from having them there? Were there any questions that you made it a point to ask them?

 

You get to watch Rich Hill start a game and see how he approaches hitters and works with his fastball. You get to watch Wood just throw nasty pitches by guys. We didn’t really want to bother them so you watch how they get prepared and what the routine is and take some of it away.

 

Thanks!

 

 

RawAction

 

Thanks for answering questions Mr. Weber.

 

Just a comment first, last season I ran a blog and had some pretty good words to say about you. One of your family members (can't remember who) read it and actually sent me an email asking when I thought you would be close to home in the MWL.

 

My questions are: how important a role does family play in your career? i.e. do you come from a baseball background or get tips from anyone in your family?

 

Family for me is a very important role. I was a kid who grew up and had 10 or so family members at every game they are a center influence on me and how I approach the game. I get tips from all of them, dad, grandpa, 11 home coaches.

 

Secondly and along the same lines, you are a lot closer to home this season than you have been as a professional. What was it like being that far from home right out of HS, especially last season when you had a full year of Arizona then Boise?

 

It’s not as much sugarcoated as people say. Coming out of HS and being away from home was tough but as you get older it gets easier. You are going off to try to fulfill a dream you have to attack it and give your best effort.

Congrats on a great season. You have a bright future.

 

 

Peajay (Southern California)

 

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

 

I was wondering, since you were a 3-sport star in high school, did you always know it was baseball you wanted to pursue professionally? Did you ever seriously consider another sport?

 

I played 3 sports but I was slow and restricted athletically and pitching is dictated more on your arm and being in baseball shape. I loved all three sports and I was a decent QB and ok at basketball. But when you looked big picture, baseball was my best option. Arena or CFL wasn’t going to cut it for me.

 

How was the scouting/drafting process to go through? Did you have a pretty good idea the Cubs were going to select you? What kind of contact did you have with the scouts before the draft? How smoothly did the contract negotiations go?

 

It isn’t tough to go through. Leading up to the draft you get contacted by 12-15 teams who watch you pitch and you just sit on draft day and wait. You can’t be nervous or get mad. Out of high school they think you are good they will take you. I had a great contact with the scouts and am still in contact with the local guy who took me. In negotiating you just have to be smart and not afraid to say no and ask for what you think you are worth. Going to college isn’t a bad thing I’ve learned from these guys that college is a great experience.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

Many thanks to Matt for taking our questions and to Nathan Baliva, Peoria Chiefs Broadcast & Media Manager, for coordinating the session!

[Outshined_One]

Thanks for conducting this interview guys!

[Chris]

Another quality session! I know that it took extra effort from Matt and Nathan to be able to bring this session to us so I want to thank them for their effort. Thanks to Serena as well, great job!

[Jon]

I'm going to write angry letters to whoever wrote the article implying that he throws a slider. I've got my credibility to consider.

[Roast]

I'm going to write angry letters to whoever wrote the article implying that he throws a slider. I've got my credibility to consider.

 

Dont worry, no one believed a word you said before, either.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'm going to write angry letters to whoever wrote the article implying that he throws a slider. I've got my credibility to consider.

 

You have credibility?