RSN: Describe TJ Large in six words or less.
TL: Down to earth. <long pause> Ready to go!
RSN: Give us a scouting report on yourself as a pitcher.
TL: Fastball with good movement. Tops out around 91 (mph). Good curveball that I'll throw behind in the count. That's my strikeout pitch.
RSN: When you say you have good movement on your fastball, do you mean downward movement?
TL: What I'm throwing is cutters, so I should have said that instead of "fastball." I'm kind of a poor man's Mariano Rivera! I’m basically cutters and curves.
RSN: Give us a scouting report on yourself as a teammate.
TL: I get along with everybody. I always have. And in a way, I'm kind of a leader here because it's my second year. Guys will ask me questions about certain things, because they might not feel comfortable going to one of the coaches. They don't want to look like the naïve first-year guy, so they come to me instead.
RSN: What is the biggest difference for you, compared to last year?
TL: Confidence. Last year I was stuck on being a 46th-rounder and put too much pressure on myself. I was trying too hard to show that I belonged. Now I'm more of a 46th-rounder trying to get 1st-rounders out, but one who knows that he can.
RSN: Having been a late-round pick last year, what were you thinking when you reported to Ft. Myers for spring training?
TL: Mostly that I didn't want to get released. When I met with Ben Cherington and the staff, I said I was hoping to be on a full-season team, but that I wasn't going to crawl into a hole if that didn't happen. My effort-level was going to be the same whether I was here or in Fenway Park. But being a late-rounder, and not having had a great season last year, I knew nothing was going to be given to me. I understand how the game works, and having seen other guys get released, I knew it was always a possibility. I have to admit that on days where I thought we'd be releasing guys, I'd show up really early just in case. I'm not big on good-byes, so I wanted to be able to pack up and get out of there before everyone showed up if I got any bad news. Fortunately, that didn't happen.
RSN: You mentioned that you understand how the game works. Where does that come from?
TL: I came out of a high-profile baseball school, so I've been around professional players a lot. Big leaguers would come to work out at my high school in the off-season, and guys like George Brett would show up for some of the games. One of my teammates was Casey Kotchman, and his father is a scout and manages the Angel's low-A team. You learn a lot being around guys like that.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Large and Kotchman were teammates on the 2001 Seminole High School team that was rated number one in the country and won the national championship.
RSN: You were drafted out of high school by San Francisco, in the 9th round, but didn't sign. What went into that decision, and do you ever regret making it?
TL: Ah, the story of my life! No, I've never regretted it. The Giants offered me decent money -- good money -- but I wasn't ready. I was 92 (mph) out of high school, but I didn't know how to pitch. I didn’t really have a breaking ball. I also wanted to grow up a bit and get some college under my belt. I have a degree in Human Environmental Science now, and that means a lot to me.
RSN: You missed most of the 2004 season with an injury. What happened?
TL: I tore my lat…the muscle down my side. It happened on February 29, which I remember because it was leap year day. I threw a fastball low and away -- 91 on the gun -- and I knew right away. You know when you pull your zipper up and down, and it feels kind of edgy? That's what it felt like from the arm-pit down.
RSN: Of the catchers you've thrown to, which has been your favorite?
TL: I've thrown to Jeff Mathis, but I'd have to say it's Bobby Wilson, who is in Double-A with the Angels right now. He was my catcher in high school, and again my sophomore year at St. Petersburg. We work really well together, and I like the way he sets up behind the plate.
RSN: Can you elaborate on that?
TL: He's big and spreads out well. Some guys set up without spreading their legs very much, and it doesn't frame the plate as well. The way Bobby sets up actually makes the strike zone look bigger for me.
RSN: Following your teammates from last year, are you surprised at how well any of them are doing?
TL: Not at all. We had so much talent here that sometimes I wonder why we didn't win even more than we did. Some of the guys…for instance, you could tell Clay Buchholz would dominate right away. I could see that the first time I watched him throw. And someone like Blake Maxwell -- he was a late-round pick, but you could tell no one wanted to hit off of him. The way he comes from the side, he can be really tough to hit against.
RSN: Let's talk about a few of your current teammates. Which of them would you say is the smartest?
TL: Do you mean book-wise? Probably Zak Farkes. He was an English Lit major at Harvard. He can read a page in about 20 seconds, and he remembers everything.
RSN: Who would you say is the funniest?
TL: Josh Papelbon and I have some good times, so I'll say it's him. We work out together a lot, but we have some fun, too.
RSN: How about the best, and worst, dressed?
TL: That's a tough one. I like my style, but I'll to give it to Jeff Vincent for “best.” He has a unique look -- kind of a vintage look, but not too trendy. The worst? That's even harder, but one guy who definitely doesn't dress up is Reid Engel. He's pretty much just a t-shirt guy. A few of the other guys are out there a little bit style-wise, but we don’t want to get into that.
RSN: If you weren't a pitcher, which position would you play?
TL: I'd be on the bench coaching. As a matter of fact, I'm a coach as soon as I'm done playing. Plus, I don't like looking bad, so I'd rather not go up there to hit.
RSN: Hypothetical scenario: All of the position players here are sick and can't play. You're the manager tonight. What is your line-up?
TL: Jean Guillen is my lead-off hitter. He's in center. Felix Ventura will play shortstop and hit second. Travis Beazley used to be an infielder, so he'll hit third and play third. I'm at first base and will bat fourth.
RSN: I thought you just said you weren't a good hitter?
TL: No. I said that I didn't like to look bad. I can hit.
RSN: What's the rest of your line-up?
TL: I'll hit Justin Masterson in the 5-hole. He used to catch, so I'll put him behind the plate. JT Zink will be next and play second base. That's where likes to be in batting practice. Yulkin German will hit 7th and be my DH.
RSN: We still need corner outfielders.
TL: Dustin Richardson will hit next and play right field. That's a good position for him.
RSN: Why is it a good position for him?
TL: He can jump. Dustin has played a lot of basketball, and you like your right fielders to be able to jump. You never know when they’ll need to climb that wall. And then we'll put Ryne Lawson in left. He can hit 9th.
RSN: Who pitches?
TL: Definitely Josh Papelbon. And do you know what?
RSN: Yes?
TL: That's a winning line-up!
