RSN: Your San Diego State bio says that your favorite pro athlete is Brad Ausmus. Why Ausmus?
PS: I had always been a catcher before last year, and I went to a lot of Padres games when he was there. He's never been the kind of player who puts up MVP-type numbers, but he plays hard and has a good knowledge of the game. Those are qualities that I admire. He just seems like a regular guy who had to work hard to make it, and I can relate to that.
RSN: You were drafted as an outfielder. Why did you move there from behind the plate?
PS: I started playing the outfield when I was in junior college. I looked at it as my being athletic enough to do it, and it made sense for the team because we had another catcher who was pretty good. Last year is the first time I was a full time outfielder, although I did play a little first and third base at the beginning of the year, too. You're always learning, but overall I've improved my reads and think I do a solid job out there.
RSN: You have a brother who has pitched in the big leagues. How many times have you hit against, and caught, him?
PS: Steve is a lefthander who throws pretty hard, and because he’s five years older than me I never hit against him growing up. Thank God. But I have caught him many times, starting when I was about 12 or 13 years old. It was pretty tough at first, because his ball moves pretty good. I remember him completely missing my glove once and hitting me square in the mask. I really learned a lot from him, though, especially the mental part of the game -- how to set up hitters, how pitchers think. Things like that.
RSN: What is the most important thing he’s taught you about pro ball?
PS: Probably to just keep my mouth shut and work hard. In this game, it's okay to ask questions, but not to question decisions. If it's meant to happen, it's going to happen. You can’t try to force things or worry about things you can’t control. All you can do is work as hard as you can and let things take care of themselves.
RSN: What has been your biggest highlight since you signed in June?
PS: I'd say it's my first home run, which I hit off the Mountain Dew sign in left center. Throwing a guy out at home was cool, too. He was tagging up on a fly ball, and it's the first time I've thrown someone out at the plate.
RSN: What kind of hitter do you consider yourself?
PS: I'm gap-to-gap. I'll hit doubles, and I run well enough that I'll get some triples.
RSN: You hit more home runs this year than in previous seasons. What was the primary reason for that?
PS: I'm not really sure. It was probably just getting more pitches I could drive and barreling up the ball more, because I didn't really change anything. I suppose I did learn how to handle the inside pitch better. Not being overly aggressive was probably part of it, too.
RSN: Do you ever find yourself trying to pull the ball too much?
PS: Sometimes I'll get a little pull-happy, but that depends on my mental strength that day. I'm looking to hit the ball where it's pitched, but it takes a lot of discipline to take that into every at-bat…into every pitch.
RSN: A lot of hitters tend to over-swing when they're fighting a slump. Are you ever guilty of that?
PS: I try not to be, because when I hit home runs they just kind of happen. When I'm struggling, it's more of just trying to put it somewhere...make solid contact and put the ball in play. I was in a pretty bad slump a few weeks ago -- nothing was falling -- when I hit a chopper over the mound that ended up going for hit. I got three hits that day, and sometimes it takes getting a bounce like that to get you going.
RSN: Earlier this season, Joe Mauer was hitting around .360 with 4 home runs, while Justin Morneau was roughly .260 with 20 home runs. Which of those stat-lines would you rather have?
PS: I'd take the .360, because it means I'm producing more. I'm making fewer outs. You score runs with home runs, but what about the extra outs you made? I want to get on base as much as possible. If my OBP is .350, a .200 average is okay with me because I'm helping give us a chance to score.
RSN: You played for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. How does his hitting approach differ from others you've worked with?
PS: His emphasis is more mental than mechanical. He's big on making sure you get your body into a good position to hit, but he doesn't mess with your swing or try to change how you hit. With Tony it's more about approach. He wants you to learn how to figure things out on your own, and he seems to focus on helping you get to the next level as much as anything.
RSN: You played with Justin Masterson at San Diego State. Can you give us a good Masterson story?
PS: I don't really have any stories, but I will say that he's one of the best people you could ever meet. When I first met Justin, I saw this really big guy with a shaved head and thought maybe he's a tough guy or something. But instead he's someone who's always smiling and gives you all of these big hugs. His personality is different on the mound, though.
RSN: How so?
PS: Last year, sometimes Justin would be on the mound ready to pitch, and the hitter would call time and step out of the box. Justin wouldn't even move. He'd just stand there in the set position, staring in, and waiting. He'd be absolutely still until the guy stepped back in to hit. I asked him once if he's angry when he does that. He said no, he's just telling the guy, "You don't want any of this. You know you don't want any of this."
RSN: How did you end up at Cypress Community College and the University of New Orleans?
PS: I had originally talked to West Point, but ended up deciding to go to Cypress, in part because my brother had played there. He was a big influence on me. After junior college, I really didn't have a place to go, but New Orleans showed some interest so I took the opportunity to play there.
RSN: What about San Diego State?
PS: I liked New Orleans, but after Hurricane Katrina I knew it was time to move on. I hadn't seen my family for eight months, and my girlfriend was back in California, so coming home to play was appealing. My brother was playing for the San Diego Surf Dawgs, who share a stadium with San Diego State, and he talked to Tony Gwynn and told him about me. Tony liked the numbers I had put up in New Orleans, and decided to give me a chance. I appreciated that, and tried to repay him by showing respect and going as hard as I could every day.
RSN: I asked you earlier about your biggest highlight since signing. What has been your favorite place to play?
PS: That's a no-brainer. It's here in Lowell. One, there's no place like home. Two, the fans pack it out for every game, and I enjoy signing autographs for the kids. Red Sox fans are ridiculous. Not in a bad way, but in how much they care about the team -- including the minor league teams. Plus, the facilities here are great.
RSN: How about places you played before turning pro?
PS: Mississippi State was one, because the fans there are incredible. But even better was getting to play in the Metrodome, in Minnesota, the same year. Hitting balls out in BP was definitely a great feeling. I remember looking up and seeing myself on the big screen, and my uniform was the bluest blue I've ever seen. I was thinking, "Man, that's me." You're on a field where big leaguers play, and it makes you dream.