Summary[]
Ben and Sam talk to 2014 St. Paul Saints pitcher Andy Johnson about what life is like in the independent leagues.
Topics[]
- Interview with Andy Johnson
- Independent league baseball
- American Association
- Clubhouse dynamics & chemistry
- In-game promotions
- Andy's scouting report
- Difference in strategy
- Quality of play
Notes[]
- Andy says the independent leagues are a mixture of players trying to move up in professional ranks and those who are on their way down from the minors (or sometimes majors).
- The level of experience a player has will directly correlate to the amount of respect and attention they get in the clubhouse.
- Mike Veeck, the son of Bill Veeck, and Bill Murray are part of the ownership group for the St. Paul Saints.
- Andy says that rarely do the promotions interfere with players' focus. He recalls they have hosted an 'Atheist Night' for the past several years.
- Typically about half the roster of an independent team will turn over between seasons.
- Andy's fastball is around 89-92 MPH but he says his best pitch is his slider, which he throws about 80% of the time.
- Sam asks Andy if he has command or control issues. Andy quickly replies, "Oh yeah, big time."
- The American Association is a high offensive environment. Andy says that teams employed player specific shifts but most bunted or stole bases rarely.
- Ben thinks Al Alburquerque is a good MLB comp for Andy.
- The level of talent in the American Association tends to average high A or low AA, however there is much more variance.
- Andy was paid $800 per month, which was the minimum league salary. The maximum was $3,500 per month.