Trail Droppings 2035-2 Q&A With Cochran

[indiansfan]

Q&A With Cochran

We had the chance to sit down with Calgary skipper Terry Cochran and ask him some questions about last season, the off season so far and some of his players.

Q - So you won the Pacific last season and made it to the final 4 for the second time in 3 years, but no Landis?

T.C. - Yeah that was a bit disappointing. It was a bit of a surprise in 2032, but this year we had the team to go all the way. But thats the beauty of the playoffs. You can come in as a wild card and win it all like we did the first Landis or you can come in at the top of your game and get knocked off. If we had made it to the Landis there is no way Havana would have won. Louisville just got lucky beating us and then they got crushed in the Landis.”

Q - People seem surprised that this team is built more around average than power. Can you explain that?

T.C. - Well in part it has to do with who you have on the team. With Juan and Mario and Dan, you have a lot of on base and speed. Mario and Rupert, well they will knock them in. It worked pretty good. We were #1 in AVG and #2 in runs scored and we still were +36 on homers hit, vs given up. Heck we were just short of 300 SB for the third year in a row.

The other thing is the division. We play half our games on the road and in places like Cali and Vancouver you aren’t going to win with only home runs.

Q - Speaking of your division, what are your thoughts on the new Frontier Division

T.C. - I really have to thank the Governing Board for this one, Christmas came early. If we don’t win the division this year I should get fired. I mean look, we have an expansion team, we have Vancouver, which is almost an expansion team and we have Edmonton that is on the way up but not ready yet. Seattle will be .500, they aren’t making the moves to win 90-95 games, so we win by default. I expect Edmonton to honestly finish second. Now what I don’t like is all the cow pastures we are playing in. The only decent homer park is us.

Q - You didn’t see that Boise went with a short right field?

T.C. - No I didn’t see that, well Rupert is going to have some fun and so are some of the other guys like Jose.

Q - Since you mentioned Jose Rios, what are your expectations of him this year?

T.C. - I think by the end of the year everyone is going to know his name. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the all star team. If we hadn’t have brought him up last year he would be the favorite for the Gillstrom, this kid has talent and he is going to be a star. He and Marin are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

Q - Who was the toughest player to lose this off season?

T.C. - Well Dan Leonard of course. When you think Calgary, he is one of the iconic names. He is going to get 3000 hits, he is going to be a HOFer and I always thought he would do it all here. But I guess it was a money thing.

Q - There are reports that the team is still trying to sign him, if so where would he play?

T.C. - I tell you what, if we get him back I will find a place for him in the lineup. He isn’t a bench player.

Q- Who would you say is the leader of this team with Leonard gone?

T.C. - Well whether he was here or not, the guy I count on is Tony Franco. This guy could start at 2B, 3B, or SS for most of the teams in this league even at 35. He won his 6th Zimmer, he hits 30 homers and drivesin 80+ runs every year and never complains. I know there will be a point that he has to move out of the everyday lineup but that won’t be this year. And when we get to that point I want him on my bench or in my dugout as long as I am here.

Q- Another longtime Pioneer is Esteban Ortiz. How long can he keep it up? I mean he is 38 years old and this will be his 19th season?

T.C. - Esteban is a marvel. I think he may have more seasons than anyone in the team’s history. I mean he was drafted as a starter, then he spent years in middle relief and the last few as a lefty specialist. As he has aged, he has found different ways to contribute, and he still has it. Last year in the Frick he was #1 in holds with 32. The second place guy had 23. The guy pitched in 83 games and had a 1.93 ERA. How do you top that? And you know what else? You know what he asks me at least once or twice a weak? He says, “When you going to let me start coach?” Yeah he still wants a shot back into the rotation and you know I might just give him one.

Q - Well that sounds like a good place to stop today, we still have more questions, but maybe we can do this again before the season starts.

T.C. - Sure enough.

[usnspecialist]

i will have to say, i was definitely relieved to face Louisville instead of Calgary. That being said, the team i didnt want to face in the entire playoffs was Rockville. They were easily the worst matchup for me style wise.

[RonCo]

Nice interview.

[bschr682]

I am so gonna piss in your cereal...