Giants Q & A with Jason Stoffel
Joe Ritzo: Last year was your first full season at the professional level. What did you find to be the biggest challenges of the pro game?
Jason Stoffel: Really it was getting through the full season. It's a long year - a lot longer than even the college year with rookie ball tacked on at the end. Just trying to stay healthy through that, keep a competitive edge and being able to go out there and compete everyday.
JR: How would you rate the season for you personally?
JS: Well, we won a championship so it can't be that bad. I thought I could have done some things better. Eliminated some bad outings. But as a whole, I was fairly happy with it.
JR: You obviously made great strides as the year progressed. Were there specific adjustments that you made?
JS: Mechanically, I changed a couple of things with my delivery. At the beginning of the year, I was leaving balls up in the zone. I kind of corrected that towards the end of the year and started to have more success. And then mentally, I was just trying to stay even. I had to put some bad outings behind me and that was a real challenge. You have to learn how to deal with that, move on and try to go out and have a good outing two days later.
JR: Do you think it takes a different mindset to be a successful closer when compared to other relief pitchers?
JS: I like to think so. I don't know if there's any truth to that, but it sure seems like those last three outs are tougher to get than outs in the middle of the game. I definitely have more adrenaline then when I'm out there in the middle of a game. I like to get more aggressive when I'm in the closer's role.
JR: One thing that's very obvious when watching you pitch is that you like to work very fast. Is that something you're making an effort to do?
JS: Absolutely. It helps me stay in rhythm, first of all, which is key. It keeps my defense into the game. No one wants to stand out there behind a pitcher who is working slow and throwing balls. If I'm throwing balls, at least I'm doing it quickly. I think it keeps the hitters more off-balance. It keeps them at the pace I'm comfortable working at which is, a lot of the time, not the pace they're comfortable with.
JR: You were one of the stars of Game 5 working 2 2/3 scoreless innings to pick-up the win. What are going to be your lasting memories of that game?
JS: Being dead-tried at the end, to be honest with you. I didn't have much left. After I threw that last pitch and struck that guy out, it was just relief washed over me and then I got pretty pumped. I definitely didn't want to lose that game.
JR: You entered the game in the eighth inning with the score tied, the bases loaded, only one out and the crowd going crazy. What were you thinking at that moment with the entire season and championship on the line?
JS: That's basically it! I just really didn't want to lose that game. Big closers are typically shut-down kind of guys and I just wanted to come in and do that and hopefully give our bats a chance to put a couple of runs up and win the game. We ended up scoring a run and it worked out.
JR: What was the post-game celebration like?
JS: It was awesome. When you play an entire year with those guys, you get pretty close. With the season culminating like that, it was exactly what we had thought about for the last portion of the year. Everyone was thrilled.
JR: What's been the highlight of your baseball career thus far?
JS: I'd have to say winning the championship in San Jose. We won the title up in Salem last year when I was there and then won in San Jose. The big league club won the title. It seems like everyone is winning, so hopefully we can continue doing that.
JR: What was your reaction to San Francisco winning the World Series?
JS: I actually couldn't believe it. They did it. I'm happy for them. It's great to be part of the organization. I can't imagine that there's any bigger thrill than that.
JR: What part of your game are you looking to most improve upon next season?
JS: I think I need a third pitch. I was working mainly with a fastball and a breaking ball this year, so I'm trying to develop a change-up this offseason. It's going pretty well, but it's something I need to try out against pro hitters and get some confidence with it at that level instead of just in a bullpen. If I can do that, I think my game will definitely step up a notch.
JR: On the lighter side ... you bullpen guys have a lot of downtime over the course of a game, especially in the early innings. What do you guys do and talk about out there?
JS: You name it and it's probably been done. All sorts of conversations and games until about the fourth inning. It's different down there. I've always thought bullpen guys are a different breed than starting guys just because we have the ability to flip a switch and be locked into a game. We like to have fun down there and keep it light, but as soon as your name gets called and you're going into the 'pen, your mind has to be right. I think that's an acquired skill over the course of being in a few bullpens.
JR: When you look back at the 2010 season in San Jose a few years down the road, what is going to come to mind?
JS: All the guys. Our bullpen was pretty close. I don't think I've been part of a bullpen that's been as close as that. It was really an honor to be in that 'pen and have the season turn out the way that it did. There were a bunch of really good guys on the team.