Zach Stewart Interview:

Photo courtesy of King Jordan 

This is an exclusive interview with your Toronto Blue Jays top 5 prospect RHP Zach Stewart.  A one on one with our boy Jay Ballz.  Enjoy!  

Can I get your thoughts on your most recent outing (1 baserunner allowed in 5 innings against Trenton on Tuesday night) and early success thus far in 2010?

I mean as far as (Tuesday), it was one of those nights where everything felt good and things were going my way and I had good defense behind me.
 

What is your pitch repertoire like?

I mean, I'm pretty much a fastball guy.  Fastball, slider, and I've been working on my change up the past few years and that's coming along.  A lot of sinkers, I guess, are pretty much what I throw mostly.

What are you working on improving this season and what are your goals this year?

Right now, just working on the change up, like I said.  That's a big deal that I've been working on.  And just getting ahead of guys and getting more outs and going longer in the game.  My ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues.

Speaking with New Hampshire pitching coach Tom Signore, he mentions your name when asked about guys on the pitching staff who could surely see some success at higher levels.  How does that sort of support make you feel?

That's awesome.  You want that kind of gratitude and everything, from your superiors.  I guess you can't move up if nobody likes you up there, so it's a good thing to know that the (powers that be) like you.

What has your experience been like playing in New Hampshire so far this season?

The few games we've played there so far, it's been really cold.  We didn't have a ton of fans show up yet, but I guess it's been better than you could expect because we had 2 or 3 games in a row when it was in the 30's and 40's and it was sleeting and stuff.  We didn't even want to be there, so I am sure the fans didn't want to be there.  But, we had a lot of people show up, so it was pretty cool.

You've been ranked as a top 10 prospect in the Toronto system by Baseball America.  How do rankings and recognition like that effect your approach to the game?

It doesn't really play into to it too much, 'cause it doesn't matter what you're ranked...if you don't play well, you're not gonna move (up), so it doesn't really matter to me.  It might matter to some guys, but not me.  It's definitely an honor, but it doesn't really matter as long as you're playing well.

Who in the Blue Jays system has helped you improve the most since you were acquired last year in the Scott Rolen trade?

I've had a lot of help from Dane Johnson, the pitching coordinator and of course Tom Signore has helped a lot here in double A, but I haven't been with him very long.  Though, what little I've been with them, those guys have helped me a lot.

Which batter would you most like to face some day?

Probably A-Rod, because he's considered one of the best hitters in the big leagues.  It would be cool to face him.

Which ballpark would you most like to pitch in some day?

The Ballpark in Arlington, because I grew up a Rangers fan.  I'm from two hours down the road, so that would be pretty exciting.

Who was your favorite player growing up?

Nolan Ryan, for sure.  Being from Texas and everything, he was pretty much a big deal back then.

What is your favorite baseball movie?

I'd say Major League...just 'cause it's funny.  It's a good baseball movie.

Kyle Drabek Interview:

1bluejaysway is pleased to announce that we have developed a friendship with the Phillies blog PhoulBallz.com.  Since the 1993 World Series is long behind us, and with their former prospects climbing through our system and our former ace running their division, there's no better time to form a brotherhood with one of the finest Phils blogs out there.

PhoulBallz.com's Jay Ballz will be crossing over into the realm of Toronto to provide you, the people, with some inside access when the situation presents itself.  He has been kind enough to give us the go ahead to give you a taste of his brilliant work with a Kyle Drabek exclusive. 

Drabek Preparing For Next Step

The transition has been easy for Kyle Drabek. In December, he was part of a package of young prospects that was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Now, as though nothing has changed, he's right back where he was last season...the star prospect on the pitching staff of a team in the Double A Eastern League.

Drabek has often stated that he wanted to stay in the Philadelphia organization, who drafted him in the first round of the 2006 amateur draft. The 22-year-old thought after the midseason trade rumors, that surrounded him possibly going to Toronto last year, passed with no action that all the turmoil was over and that he could simply relax and focus on getting to the big leagues with the Phillies. That wasn't the case, as the deal eventually came to fruition over the off-season.

In the Blue Jays system this season, Drabek doesn't have to worry about being dealt. He only has to concern himself with opposing batters and working on his secondary pitches to compliment his electric mid-90's fastball.

To continue reading, click here.

If you want to leave a comment on it, ask any questions or just want to say thanks for the insight, please do so on his site.

Quickly:

A fun fact from Jay:

Did you know that in the 1940's the Phillies made an unsuccessful attempt to change their name to the Blue Jays?

What We Need Is.....

So, after a few hours at the home of the inlaws, I had some time to reflect on what it is the Jays need. There are very few certains in sports, in the NFL you have the white kicker. In the NBA you have the athletic swingman. In the NHL you have the cocky Russian Sniper and the French-Canadian Goalie. And in Major League Baseball you have the Dominican middle infielder and the right handed pitcher from Texas. Take a look around Jays fans, how many dominant pitchers have been right handed and from Texas. Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Josh Beckett. Remember when the Jays won it all? Who did we have up the Middle? Catch the taste Robbie and Dominican Tony. And who did we have on the bump that year? Granted he wasn't a star, but we had Gregory Scott "Woody" Williams from Houston Texas in the rotation. We need a sweet fielding middle infielder to go with the Hill up the middle and we need a good ol' fashion corn fed fireballer from Texas. Maybe he's already in our system, Robert Ray is from Lufkin, Texas, and we have a kid named Gustavo Pierre in the low minors, he was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Maybe all the so called "baseball writers" are right, maybe, just maybe 2012 will be the Jays year.....