Sitting Down With Bronson Sardinha
Sardinha was a supplemental first round (34th overall) pick by the Yankees in 2001, and he appeared at every level in the Yankees organization before being granted free agency after the 2007 season. Sardinha was signed by the Seattle Mariners in January 2008, but was released in April. The Cleveland Indians signed him in May of that year and he finished the season with the Triple A Buffalo Bisons. He was released by the Indians in the off season, and he sat out the entire 2009 season before signing with the Rockies.
Sardinha has been one of the Drillers most consistent hitters since joining the team on May 15.
Bronson is not the first Sardinha to play professional baseball. His brother Duke played for the Drillers in 2007 and 2008 and his brother Dane currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Recently, TulsaDrillers.com sat down with Bronson to ask him about his life experiences in professional baseball.
Q: What were the youth baseball opportunities like in Hawaii?
A: "They were pretty good at the time. There were a few years with a lot of very good players coming out of the state. My older brother (Dane) and a couple of other guys were getting looked at pretty hard, so that opened the doors for the younger Hawaii guys."
Q: Did you ever go to the mainland to play?
A: "I went to area codes and Junior USA tryouts. Those were the only times I made it to the mainland."
Q: Do you remember your first big-league hit?
A: "Yes, it was in Tampa Bay against Scott Kazmir."
Q: Who are some of the toughest pitchers you have faced?
A: "I'd have to say Justin Verlander. I faced Greg Maddux in spring training too. It seemed like everything he threw was a fastball, but I kept on swinging and missing [laughs]."
Q: Were you and your brothers ever on the same team as kids?
A: "We played one time together. It was Legion ball for our high school team. I was in seventh grade playing with guys that had just graduated and other guys that played for the high school. I played second. One of my brothers played shortstop, and the other played third."
Q: Out of you three, who was the best as a kid?
A: "My older brother, Dane. He's a catcher for the Phillies. He was the guy all the scouts came to see when he was in high school."
Q: Your younger brother Duke is a former Driller. What is he up to now?
A: "He's working back in Hawaii. He sits at a desk with a computer. He's got the brains of the family. He surfs and gives hitting lessons, and he's trying to play independent league ball next year."
Q: What was it like playing for the New York Yankees?
A: "Great. They are a great organization. They drafted me and took care of me really well. They expected a lot out of me. It was a good place all around. The big league guys always treated me well."
Q: How was playing in Yankee Stadium?
A: "It was the best place I've ever played. The atmosphere, the crowd, the history behind it, being able to take the field with those guys is the best experience I've ever had in my life."
Q: What was it like appearing in a playoff game?
A: "Nerve-wrecking. Sitting there for eight or nine innings and then having to get ready, throw like three balls, and then Joe Torre says 'You got to go into left for [Johnny] Damon.' And then the situation was the winning run was on third, and then thinking the ball was going to be hit to me and I'd have to try and throw him out at home, it was very nerve-wrecking, especially with the crowd noise. It was a great experience, it makes you grow up pretty fast."