Ask Applejack

AJ, welcome back to the board and thank you for taking your time for us. For you new members, AJ was a MLB pitcher for the Dodgers, Reds, Pirates and AJ, forgive me if I left out a team. He was very kind to help us out a few years ago and provided some great answers to some tough questions about pitching, coaching, college and professional baseball. He is here to answer any questions that you have. It can be about anything...sore arms, importance of stretching, running..it maybe a particular problem you are having and need advice on how to approach it. Perhaps you have questions about junior colleges vs D1...or a particular workout program.

AJ is excellent in developing youth programs but he is very knowledgeable about preparing for the next level.

One of the things I love about AJ are the stories he has. So feel free to ask him about some of his experiences. I'll start this off by asking this:

AJ, share with us some of the teammates you have had and players you played against..people like Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson (who AJ has beaten) ..etc?

 

I'll be checking in during the day to see what's going on over here. Braves you know I'm down with it. So let's goooooo....

 

AJ how about some of your fun stories from the pro area.

 

AJ, glad you can take some time each day to put up with us.

I am interested in just some stories you may have as well. Pranks, jokes, etc?

Thanks!

 

Spring training 1980:

Tommy Lasorda comes into the dressing room after a hot day of practice and announces that all of you guys need to be at a certain function tonight. This is a coat and tie affair.
Jerry Reuss shows up at the affair with a black tuxedo coat and black bow tie.
No pants and no shirt. Tommy was livid but Reussy's excuse was "I'm just following instructions."

 

Ha ha ha... that's the stuff I like to hear.

Thanks! Got anymore?

 

AJ, was there ever a time in HS, college or your professional career when you questioned your confidence? and how did you overcome it?

 

Great question Braves. I think there is a time in ALL baseball players minds where they question themselves.

 

Good question. Off the top of my head I can think of 2 times that occured.
My senior year in high school I ended up 3-4. I was really bummed because our other pitcher was 7-0. At the end of the year I was talking with my coach and we reviewed my games. He stated, you had a good year, you were #2 in the state in K's, 1.180 ERA, and he noted that our infield was mainly freshman and sophomores who made a lot of errors.
I also had a .433 BA and 7 colleges were calling. Made me feel a lot better.

The 2nd one was my 2nd year with the Reds. During spring training they wanted to send me to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to play A ball again. This was my 4th year in A ball so I told them that I am not going to play in CR. If I'm going to play A ball again I will play in Tampa.
I sat out for one week in the hotel preparing to go home but they decided that I could play in Tampa. My dad convinced me during that week not to quit but they did not know that. I made the all-star team that year and was promoted to 2A and was instrumental in winning the championship there. They did not give me a ring though.

 

College Pitching Prospects

AJ- I read alot about what colleges are looking for before recruiting a pitcher. I also see some awfully good HS pitchers that can't light up a radar gun. Is there any hope of playing D1 ball for a kid that really knows how to pitch, has great movement and breaking stuff, just can't throw over low 80s? Does it matter if they are lefty or righty?