Q & A with Mike McCormick

Q: Were you drafted by the team that you thought would take you and what team was talking to you the most in the time leading up to the draft?

A: Well I definitely wasn't surprised when I was selected by Tampa Bay. I had worked out with the organization several times, and we had kept in contact right up until the draft. I'm not really sure who was talking the most, but they were at the top of the list.

Q: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make during your first season in making the transition to being a professional baseball player?

A: Probably the biggest adjustments I had to make were made at the plate. I came from a small school, and the pitching last summer was not something I was used to. But regardless of who's pitching, hitting requires constantly making those kind of adjustments, and I feel like I was able to make some of those changes this offseason.

Q: It was discovered pretty deep into the 2005 season that you had played a good deal of the season in Princeton with mononucleosis. Looking back now and taking that into account, you turned in a very admirable performance. How tough was it to come to the ballpark every day without being able to pinpoint the problem and how much did it affect the type of player that Mike McCormick is all about?

A: Well obviously it had some affect on my performance and the way I felt coming to the park , but it's certainly not an excuse for my struggles last season. I feel like with or without mono, there were adjustments I failed to make for one reason or another that lead to my inconsistency. With that said, I am very excited to return healthy this spring, and I do think being in good health will have a significant impact on the upcoming season.

Q: What have you been doing over the winter to get ready for the 2006 season? Are you entering spring training at what you feel to be 100 percent?

A: I have tried to be as consistent as possible with a six day a week program that includes weight and speed training, along with my baseball specific program as well. This has been the most intense I have trained in an offseason, and I feel in great physical shape.

Q: Other than Princeton, what was your favorite ballpark in the Appalachian League in which to play and why?

A: I definitely enjoyed playing at Greeneville. It is an amazing facility, and there were always a lot of fans at our games there.

Q: You were one of just a few players in the Appalachian League to be named the league's "Player of the Week" at some point or another during the 2005 season. You did indeed have that one week in July in particular when your bat was red-hot. Do you recall anything in particular about the games that made up that week to make it so special?

A: Well, I was just seeing the ball well that week, and my bat felt pretty fast. I think by that time in the season my approach was just getting a little better. And when you feel like you've got a hot bat it's a lot easier to get a streak going.

Q: At this time, which one of your teammates from the 2005 Princeton Devil Rays do you feel is the most likely to be a successful major league player and why?

A: If I had to pick just one, I would probably say John Matulia. He's a very talented player, and I think he's just going to keep getting better because he's a hard worker. But there are a lot of guys who were on our 2005 team that definitely have the potential to go all the way.

Q: Who is your favorite major league player and who have been your biggest influences in your development as a baseball player to this point in your career?

A: I would say Alex Rodriguez is my favorite current player because he has always been the kind of all-around player I have tried to be. He is also a very hard worker which I respect about him. I have had a lot of influences in my life, but the biggest influences have definitely been my parents and my brother. They have always supported me in all my baseball ventures, and continue to be a motivation for me.

Q: Are you a goal-oriented person and have you set any goals for yourself in relation to the 2006 season?

A: I have set a lot of personal goals for myself, but I think when it boils down to it I just have to play the way I know I can play, and I feel like the rest will then fall in place. It's important for me to keep getting better each year, and to dedicate all my energy this season to making sure that happens.

Q: You played a lot of third base for the P-Rays in 2005 but yet your primary high school position was shortstop. Where do you prefer to play in the field and at what position do you see yourself having the fastest track to your advancement in professional baseball?

A: I think playing shortstop in high school really prepares you for just about any position on the field. I had played third a little before coming to Princeton last season, but making the switch at the professional level was more difficult because of the increase in game speed, and the versatility of the hitters at the plate. I am feeling more and more comfortable at third base now and I feel it's a good position for me in my career, and will present me with good opportunities.

Q: Looking back on it now, was Princeton a good place for you to "get your feet wet" and start your professional career and why?

A: It really was a great place to start my professional career. It was a very competitive league, and I felt like the community's involvement with the team and our success was helpful for me. The fans were great, and I met some really nice people there.