I found this on Ken Rosenthal’s site. I hope you enjoy it!
Q: It doesn’t seem like the adjustment to National League pitching has been that difficult for you. How do your explain your individual success thus far?
A: I think two things. When I got traded, I said it almost felt like my career had just started. I was like a little kid again. I was so excited to play, to be out there and perform. Second of all, when you’re in a lineup as talented as this and as potent as this, you’re going to get good pitches to hit. I compare this lineup to the lineup I was in with Texas my first three years there. Every time up, it seems like you’re hitting with men on base.
Q: How difficult was it in that final month or so knowing you might be traded, whether it was to the Braves, Angels or Dodgers?
A: It was a little tough. The great thing about the time leading up to the trade deadline was that every team that was floated out there were all great teams to consider getting traded to. Any time you get a chance to move to an organization that is in a pennant race and has a chance to win, it beats being in last place.
Q: You attended Georgia Tech. Your wife, Leigh, is from north of Atlanta. How excited were you to end up with the Braves?
A: Out of all the teams that were thrown out there, I was most happy about the Braves. First of all, they were winning and had a chance to make the playoffs. But second of all, to go back home, to see Leigh’s family, to see friends from college and be in a place I was familiar with — that was great.
Q: What has it been like playing for Bobby Cox?
A: I love him, man. I can’t say enough great things about Bobby Cox. The Braves winning 14 consecutive division titles, a huge reason for that is Bobby Cox — what he brings to the team, the stability, the respect that he has gained. Every player I’ve ever talked to loves Bobby Cox.
Q: What stands out to you playing for him that maybe you didn’t know before?
A: He’s sincere. He’s genuine. When he’s ticked off, he’s genuinely ticked off. When he’s happy, he’s genuinely happy. When he talks to you, you know there’s nothing behind it, no hidden meanings. Whatever he says, he believes. And it’s coming from his heart.
Q: Which of the big-name Braves — Chipper, Andruw, John Smoltz, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur — is the most different from what you expected?
A: McCann and Francoeur are so great. They have no egos. They’re young and talented and they have every reason to be cocky, to think they’re the greatest thing they’re walking. But they don’t. They’re just kids playing baseball.
Q: How frustrating is it to you that the team hasn’t surged?
A: The toughest thing is that we haven’t won the close games. It seems that every time we have a one-run game, we’re coming up on the short end of the stick. For whatever reason, we can’t seem to break through in those close games.
Q: After the trade, Rangers owner Tom Hicks disclosed that you had rejected an eight-year contract offer for about $140 million. How upset were you that he went public?
A: I wasn’t upset. Anything that happened with the Rangers is all in the past. Honestly, I was so excited to be an Atlanta Brave, everything that came out afterward, I really didn’t even pay attention to. That sounds politically correct. But that’s the honest truth. I was so happy to be a Brave, so happy to be in Atlanta.
Q: It’s difficult for many people to understand how a player could turn down such an offer. What was your thinking?
A: For me, it wasn’t about the contract. It was about the plan for my career. I felt like it was unfair for me to be given a take-it-or-leave-it offer and be told, if you don’t take it, you’re going to be traded. Whatever happens in my career, I can accept. But I’m not going to make a decision based on someone pressuring me to do something.
Q: You made some critical comments about the Rangers’ commitment to winning about two weeks before you were traded. How frustrated were you at the time?
A: I was very frustrated. Every player in Texas was frustrated to some degree. It was the kind of article that everybody in Texas wanted to write and they needed me for quotes. I’m going to be honest when people ask me questions. I’m going to be honest about wanting to win. I’m going to be honest about the direction of my career. I just answered the questions that were given to me. I didn’t hold a press conference and say, “Listen to me. I have all these things to say.”
Q: How tough was it leaving two of your best friends with the Rangers, shortstop Michael Young and third baseman Hank Blalock?
A: Very tough. I have a lot of good friends in Texas that I continue to root for. I check the boxscores periodically to see what guys are doing. I always said I wanted to be in a dogpile with Michael Young and Hank Blalock. I hope someday they get a chance to do that. Unfortunately, it won’t be with me. But I still root for those guys.
Q: You’re a free agent after next season. What will go into your decision?
A: No. 1, I want a chance where I can win consistently. That is my No. 1 goal in my career. I’ve been very lucky, very blessed early in my career to have personal success. But I have not had any team success. That’s No. 1. No. 2, wherever my family is going to be happy. My wife and my kids are so important to me. Wherever they feel comfortable is a place where I’m going to be.
Q: You’re represented by Scott Boras. There’s a perception that Boras clients always go for the most money. Is that fair?
A: I think it’s very unfair. I’ve always said that people that say that are the teams that make the lowest offer to their own players and (see them) end up leaving for free agency. The players that go to teams and perform, everyone says how great it is to have ‘em. No one talks about the money anymore.
Q: Last question, and this one is a biggie. If you had stayed with the Rangers, what would the score have been in the game they beat the Orioles, 30-3?
A: They scored 30 runs without me. I’d have to say at least 34 or 35 (laughing). But really, I don’t know that I would have made that big of a difference.
Filed under: Miscellaneous
