Eric Patterson wins NSBB Minor League POY Award

[Tim]

Eric Patterson has been selected as the 2005 Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Year by North Side Baseball. Eric had a fantastic first professional season as he put up a post-season all-star year at Peoria. He displayed all the tools on the field. On defense, he lead the Midwest league in defensive fielding percentage among all second basemen and showed very strong range. He stole 40 bases in Peoria and has two more since his promotion to West Tennessee. At the plate, he showed the ability to hit for average with a .333 rate. He slugged 50 extra base hits in 432 AB's. And his plate discipline was strong with a walk rate of better than 1 in every 10 plate appearances.

 

Overall, as impressive as his line of .333/.405/.535 is, it still does not reflect the amount of contributions he had to his team. As mentioned above, he also contributed great defense and was a great sparkplug on the bases.

 

Nathan Boliva, announcer for the Peoria Chiefs, had this to say, "Eric is a very deserving choice as the NSBB Minor League Player of Year. His on-field achievements spreak for themselves and he was clearly the Chiefs MVP of the season. The Chiefs were happy and fortunate to get to watch Eric play all season. In addition to his on-field achievements, Eric also carried himself as a great example off the field with his teammates and in the Peoria Community."

 

Eric has chosen to donate the $100 award to the Hurricane Relief fund.

 

Strong consideration was given to Matt Murton, who edged out Patterson in the user vote. However, the NSBB minor league writers for the site were unanimous in nominating Patterson for their 50% of the vote, giving him the overall edge in the award. Others receiving support included Brandon Sing, Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno, Ricky Nolasco and others.

 

Thanks to all who participated in this process and congrats to Eric Patterson!

Edited September 3, 2005 by Tim

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Congrats, Eric!

[Jon]

http://www.jonmdavis.net/ericpatterson.jpg

 

Congratulations to Eric. Even if he reports to Daytona next April, the fans in West Tennessee won't have to wait long to see him again.

[ChiefsVoice]

Eric has chosen to donate the $100 award to the Hurricane Relief fund.

 

 

Awesome. Great job on the poll guys and congrats to Eric whom it was a pleasure not only to watch play every day but to also get to know at a person. The above comment does not surprise me one bit. It fits right in with Eric.

[Laura]

Congrats to Eric! :D

[NCCubFan]

Well deserved. It's nice that at least one Patterson is having a good year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Congrats, Eric!

[Chris]

This afternoon I had the great pleasure of presenting the award to Eric. The first things that we discussed after presenting him the award was where the $100 should go. Without any hesitation Eric said that the money should go to help the hurricane victims.

 

I was able to ask Eric several questions and plan on having the interview posted ASAP. We talked about his season, the award, and his goals for the AFL. Eric is a class act to say the absolute least. He is very humble and was very gracious to the fans who have supported him.

 

I want to thank all of you who helped in this process. I also want to thank Jon for doing a great graphic! Congratulations Eric!

[Chris]

Eric Patterson NSBB Player of the Year Interview

September 2, 2005

 

With your award is a $100 donation to charity in your name. Where would you like for that donation to go?

 

Definitely the hurricane victims. They definitely need it so I’d like to send it there.

 

This award is from a fan forum, a fan message board. How does an award like this mean, knowing that it comes from the fans that think that much of you?

 

It’s definitely a tremendous honor to be named player of the year. It’s a tremendous honor. It’s definitely nothing that I set out to do at the beginning of the year or anything like that. I just tried to go out and do my job. Like I said, it’s a huge honor and I’m very thankful for it.

 

What are your thoughts in regards to the season you had in Peoria?

 

I think all in all it was a pretty good year. Obviously there are still a lot of things that I need to work on but for it being my first full season and performing the way I did consistently I was happy with that.

 

What’s the biggest difference between the pitching in the MWL and the Southern League?

 

I think execution with pitches. In this league they are a lot more around the plate and you don’t have a real good idea what they’re doing whereas in Peoria you have guys that knew what they wanted to do but couldn’t put the ball where they wanted to all the time.

 

What is your biggest goal for a short stretch in AA ball?

 

Basically to just continue doing the same things I was doing. I should stay with my routine, stay consistent, however I can help the club win baseball games, that’s my job. When I’m hitting in the leadoff spot try to get on base and try to be solid defensively up the middle. Those are the two biggest things. Any kind of spark or anything I can do to help the team here is my main focus right now.

 

Earlier in the season Jim Hendry told me that in regards to your promotion that your future was in the hands of Oneri Fleita. He said that when Oneri made that decision you would be moved up. What message was sent from guys like Oneri and Jim when you were promoted?

 

Basically to just continue doing what you’re doing, nothing changes. For me it’s all about just staying comfortable and staying with the routine that I have and just continue to keep working on the things that I have been working on. Nothing changes because you move up, that doesn’t mean you have to change your whole way of thinking or the whole way you play the game. I’m just going to continue doing the things I was doing in Peoria and continue to get my work in. However I can help this team is basically what I want to try to do.

 

Did you expect to jump two levels?

 

No, not really, but you never know what’s going to happen throughout the course of the season. I guess circumstances were right and everything was good and I’m here now and I want to help these guys any way I can.

 

I saw your brother play here five years ago. I watched him help lead the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx to a Southern league Championship in 2000. What messages did he send to you when you told him that you were being promoted to AA West Tennessee since he was here just a few years ago?

 

He said to just go up there and be yourself, don’t try to do anything different, don’t try to go up there and impress people or anything like that, just continue to play your game and good things will happen. That’s all I’ve been trying to do since I’ve been here and what I’ll continue to do.

 

You’ve been selected to the Arizona Fall League along with a few of the guys here in AA West Tennessee. What are your goals as you go in to the AFL?

 

You just try to get better as a baseball player. Playing against good competition day in and day out is definitely going to help in that. It’s a good chance to stack yourself up with some of the other better players in Minor League Baseball and kind of see where you stand. I’m definitely excited about it, I’m honored for the privilege to play in it and I’m really looking forward to it.

 

If the season ended today and you were writing a scouting report on yourself, an end of the year review, what would be included in that review?

 

I just want to play hard and play the right way. I like to think I have a little of everything and I’m able to showcase it when I have the opportunity.

[Laura]

That's cool. Thanks, Chris, for getting the comments from him. He's a really great, personable guy -- and he can play, too!

[Banedon]

Congrats Eric!

[Chris]

Here's Eric with the NSBB Player of the Year Award!

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/DJAXXFAN/6545723-R1-052-24A.jpg

[sandberg23]

Here's Eric with the NSBB Player of the Year Award!

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/DJAXXFAN/6545723-R1-052-24A.jpg

 

What does the plaque say?

[Chris]

2005 Chicago Cubs Minor League System Player of the Year Award is presented by http://www.northsidebaseball.com to Eric Patterson with the date following

[barrettismyidol]

very nice!

[sandberg23]

2005 Chicago Cubs Minor League System Player of the Year Award is presented by http://www.northsidebaseball.com to Eric Patterson with the date following

 

Thanks. I never go to the homepage.