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| Giants Q & A with Thomas Neal |
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10/23/2009
Team MVP Reflects on the Championship Season
Thomas Neal hit .337 with 22 home runs and 90
RBI's this season for the San Jose Giants
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In this edition of Giants Q & A, California League All-Star Thomas Neal chatted with radio voice Joe Ritzo. Neal had one of the best individual seasons in San Jose Giants history this year when he hit .337 with 22 home runs and 90 RBI’s. Among the topics discussed were winning the team MVP award, sweeping the championship series, his breakout year at the plate and the Arizona Fall League.
Joe Ritzo: On a team that set a record for most wins in a season, what did it mean to be named San Jose’s Most Valuable Player?
Thomas Neal: It was a big honor to receive that award. Obviously we had a lot of good guys. We had a lot of great players on our team and I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by them. There was a lot of protection throughout the lineup. It was a pretty big honor.
JR: Describe the mood of the team after the Game 4 loss in Bakersfield or even during Game 5 at home when the club was trailing into the late innings.
TN: To be honest, I don’t think there was doubt in anyone’s mind that we weren’t going to win. We knew we were tough at home. From the get-go when everyone got to the park, we knew it was time to take care of business. We just had to bear down and play our game.
JR: Given the kind of year High Desert enjoyed and all of the travel San Jose had to endure that week, were you surprised that the team was able to sweep the Championship Series?
TN: I was not surprised. I knew Game 1 was going to be a pretty big game. If we got Game 1, I knew we’d take care of the rest. It wasn’t a surprise at all. I knew our pitching matched up well with them and I knew we could hit against them.
JR: What did it mean to wrap up the championship at home in front of another big crowd?
TN: It was awesome to finish up a season and win a championship at home. All year long, the fans came out and supported us. Every game they were there from beginning to end. It definitely helped us while we were at home to have that kind of fan support. It was nice to be able to give back to the fans and let them be there for the championship.
JR: You had a nice year offensively in Augusta last season, but really seemed to breakout this year in the California League. What do you attribute that to?
TN: I think it was finally being healthy throughout the entire season. Last year in Augusta, it was a huge learning experience as far as dealing with the failure that’s going to come with a long season. It was just nice to be able to be out there and play everyday and show everyone what I’m capable of doing.
JR: For the first time since your rookie year in 2006, you were playing the outfield and I know it was something you were really looking forward to. How would you evaluate how the season went for you defensively?
TN: I felt it was a positive year. Obviously coming off the shoulder surgery, I wasn’t too sure how my shoulder was going to respond throughout the entire year. But with the help of (trainer) Yuki (Oba) and doing all of my exercises, my arm held up pretty well. As far as defensively, I played to the level that I expected. I definitely know that I can improve and will continue to work hard to get better defensively.
JR: Specifically, what are some of the things you feel you need to improve on defensively in left field?
TN: I would say making better reads on the balls that I need to go back on. Other than that, I felt that throwing-wise, everything came together. Just working on the little things. Foot-work and getting set up the correct way. Having a good rhythm when the pitcher throws the ball and reading the ball off the bat. All of those little things.
California League managers voted Neal as the
"top hitting prospect" and as having the "best
outfield arm" in the entire league this season
(photo by Tommy LaPorte) |
JR: Throwing guys out on the bases was definitely a big part of your season. It seemed like you really took a lot of pride in that part of your game.
TN: Yeah, I’ve always taken pride in throwing runners out. I feel that if you’re not hitting, you can always make a play on defense. You’re not always going to have the opportunity to make a play, like catching a fly ball. But if you can hold a runner at third base and give your pitcher another chance to make a good pitch to get out of the inning. It’s just something where I feel you can change a game and I take pride in being able to throw people out.
JR: What are you looking to get out of the Arizona Fall League experience?
TN: From an offensive standpoint, I want to have the same game plan that I had all season. I want to put together better at-bats, but at the same time, getting a little more aggressive. Another thing is that I want to show that I belong out there with the best. I want to prove to everyone and myself that I belong out there.
JR: What’s the biggest difference in the pitching when comparing the Cal League to the AFL?
TN: The guys down here hit their spots a little bit better. They have better control of their breaking balls and a lot of them throw pretty hard. It’s definitely one of those things where you have to be ready and have a good game plan. If you don’t have a good game plan, your chances of being successful aren’t very high.
JR: You’ve got three stolen bases already down there. Is this going to be a part of your game going forward?
TN: Yes, I’m working on that. I know the Giants didn’t expect it, but the coach of our team held a meeting when we first got there and said that he likes to run and everyone has a green light to go. I’m just trying to be smart as far as stealing bases. I definitely want to incorporate that into my game. I know I’m not a base stealer, but I feel that if I can steal bases when we need to get an extra run or something. It’s something where I really want to improve my game.
JR: Going back to this past season in San Jose, outside of championship night, what was your most memorable individual accomplishment of the year?
TN: One would probably be the night where we clinched the first half title because the first half was a pretty big grind. To have everyone come through in Stockton, it was a pretty awesome feeling. Then obviously hitting for the cycle. That’s something I’ll always be able to say that I did. I can tell my kids and grandkids that I hit for the cycle.
JR: Once the fall league is over, what are your plans for the remainder of the offseason?
TN: As soon as the fall league ends, I’m going on vacation for about a week in Hawaii. The day I get back, I have to report to Arizona for conditioning and strength camp to go work on speed and agility and starting my weight-lifting program. Then once that’s over, in January, it looks like I may be heading out to Tampa, Florida to workout at a complex that my agent has. Some of the best guys go there and workout such as Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard and Ryan Braun. I think that would be a good experience for me to go out there and see how the big leaguers work, especially the ones that have proven themselves ahead of others. I’m really looking forward to that.
JR: Years from now, what do you think you’re going to remember most about your season and overall experience in San Jose?
TN: Hopefully I can say that was the point where I really got the Giants attention somewhat and proved to everybody what I was capable of. It’s something that I’ve always felt I’d be able to do and obviously I stayed healthy. Hopefully I can look back and say that this was the starting point onto something good.
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