|
|
| Q and A with Antoan Richardson |
|
10/19/2007
'07 San Jose Giants MVP Answers Questions About The Championship Season, Hawaii
Antoan Richardson is currently playing for the
Waikiki BeachBoys of the Hawaii Winter League
(photo by Damon Tarver) |
In the first edition of Giants Q and A, Antoan Richardson sat down and talked with radio voice Joe Ritzo. Richardson earned 2007 San Jose Giants Team MVP honors after hitting .279 with two home runs, 29 RBI, and 43 stolen bases in addition to playing a stellar defensive center field. The speedster is currently playing for the Waikiki BeachBoys of the Hawaii Winter League. He shared his thoughts on the past season in the California League and with how his offseason is progressing in Hawaii.
Joe Ritzo: How was your experience playing in San Jose last year?
Antoan Richardson: I had a great experience. It was probably the best city that I’ve played in. The fans were great, they made you want to play everyday when you came to the ballpark. The fans gave you an extra boost to play nine innings. I had a great opportunity and learned a lot from Lenn (Sakata) and Garrett (Nago). And my teammates were unbelievable too. I had a good relationship with everybody and the chemistry was wonderful. And to cap it off, we won the championship. It was a great season.
JR: Were you expecting to participate further in the playoffs after playing in the first game or was the ankle injury again an issue?
AR: I was hoping I’d be able to perform and play after the first game. I tweaked it a little in that first game, but still felt I was available to go. The competitive nature about me wanted to go out there and play with the guys, but I was probably thinking more with my heart rather than my brain. I wanted to play in that atmosphere especially after being there the whole year. But it worked out for the best, we still won the championship, and that’s all that matters.
JR: What was the feeling in the clubhouse when the team was down 2-0 in the championship series to Lake Elsinore?
AR: We never doubted that we had a chance to win the thing. We felt the two games we lost, we had a great opportunity to win those two games. We thought we were the better team, knew we were going back home, and knew we were tough to beat in San Jose. It showed in those last few games, being in front of the home fans. No one was hanging their head. We knew it was going to be a battle, but at the same time, we were going back home.
JR: What was the most memorable individual moment for you last season?
AR: To tell you the truth, I think it was the end and holding the championship trophy. It was something we worked hard for and was something from day one we set our sights on. It was tough not playing during that last stretch, but seeing us win it all was the most special moment for me. Just to hold the trophy and know we were the champions.
JR: How special was it for you to win the Team MVP award, especially for a club that went on to win a championship?
AR: I guess it was a great accomplishment and I really appreciate that acknowledgement. But at the same time, I think it could have gone to a lot of different guys. I’m proud of the accomplishment, but I was sad we weren’t doing as well then. I was more focused on the team and trying to find some way to come back and rally. I appreciated it, but I think the trophy was for the 24 guys who stood beside me, especially when I had the injury. They had my back. And all of the fans who supported me and our team even during the down times. The front office was also always there to support us regardless of the situation.
JR: What was your favorite aspect of Municipal Stadium?
AR: The fans! They were awesome. They would come out every single night. The atmosphere was like no other. We’d go to all of these other parks that hold more people, and were a little more fancy. But I’ll tell you what, we had great fans that supported us no matter what. We had a stretch where we weren’t playing very well, but they still showed up every night. I think it was a key element that pushed us over the top. The fans made us want to play.
JR: How is the experience thus far in Hawaii?
AR: So far, so good. It’s a lot of good times. You get to see some great pitchers and some of the better players. I didn’t get off to the start I wanted to get off to, but at the same time, I’m still learning a lot. I feel like I’m getting better each day. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and hope this experience will help me down the line in my career.
JR: Can you compare the California League and Hawaii in terms of level of play and quality of pitching that you’re seeing?
AR: I think it’s similar. The difference in Hawaii is that after the starting pitcher and when they bring someone in from the bullpen, he’s still probably a front-line guy. In the Cal League, sometimes when you get into the bullpen, you’ll find the talent might drop off a little bit. But in Hawaii it pretty much stays at the same level.
JR: What about a comparison of your day-to-day, off-the-field life between San Jose and Hawaii? I bet there are a lot of fun things to be doing in Hawaii when you’re not playing.
AR: There is a lot of stuff to do in Hawaii, but it’s similar to my situation back home in the Bahamas. I guess I take the beach for granted because I can go all of the time in the Bahamas. But I love it. The opportunity to go to the beach and swim around and enjoy the sun. It’s a beautiful place. You can go snorkeling and do all of these great things in our free time.
JR: What are your plans once the Hawaii season concludes?
AR: Go home and see my family. I haven’t seen them in awhile. It’ll be great to go back to the Bahamas and hang out with my family for a little bit and take some time off of baseball. And then I’ll get back on it and get ready for spring training.
JR: What part of your game do you feel needs the most improvement to continue your move up the Giants farm system?
AR: I think it would be my hitting. I need to be better at the plate. I have to cut down on my strikeouts. I struck out way too many times last year. I need to be more consistent with the bat. At the same time, other aspects of my game have to improve, but that right there is most important thing if I hope to continue ascending through the organization.
JR: What do you feel are your strengths as a ballplayer?
AR: I think my speed and how I can change the game sometimes. Whether it’s on the base paths or running down a ball in the gap. I think that’s my biggest strength. The ability to change games on the base paths. I feel that’s what I benefit from greatly.
JR: All right, thanks for taking the time, Antoan. Good luck to you going forward.
AR: No problem, thank you.
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|